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4.9 Biological Resources Agricultural The project site is almost entirely composed of actively farmed agricultural lands, predominantly almond and apricot orchards (about 416 acres) and annual or row crops (about 217 acres). Several ` residences and farm buildings occur within the project, along with associated landscaping such as eucalyptus and mulberry trees. Three artificial overflow irrigation basins are also associated with the agricultural lands; these basins collect excess irrigation from the orchards on site, and exhibit ` some characteristics of seasonal wetlands (prevalence of hydrophytic vegetation, wetland hydrology,and/or hydric soils). Surrounding fields also support orchard, hay, and grain crops as well as grapes and other row crops. Cultivated lands provide little habitat for native plant species; however, natural vegetation can occur along field edges and irrigation features such as ditches. Cultivated fields provide a forage base for many species of wildlife. California Annual Grassland Series Annual grassland on the project site is interspersed within the agricultural matrix(and is represented in the acreage calculations presented for agricultural lands). It occurs in narrow strips adjacent to crops, including the spaces between orchard rows. Commonly found constituents of this habitat type found within the project area are barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli), feather r. fingergrass(Chloris virgata), tumbleweed(Salsola tragus),yellow star-thistle (Centaurea solstitialis),Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), cheeseweed(Malva parviflora),common purslane(Portulaca oleracea), ripgut brome(Bromus diandrus), and spotted spurge(Chamaesyce maculata). Grasslands provide important foraging,breeding, and resting opportunities for many species of wildlife. Riparian Scrub (Mulefat Series and Scalebroom Series) Hospital Creek is ephemeral and channelized. It flows east through the southwestern section and �. then along the southern border of the project. The creek channel comprises about 2.4 acres of the project site.The channel is lined with broken concrete and gravel downstream of the box culvert crossing of the Delta-Mendota Canal, and transitions to a mostly unlined channel along the southern boundary of the project. Riparian habitat is limited to very small, isolated fragments along Hospital Creek within the project 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 on 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 califomica), 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,elements of this community can be found growing along the steep, well-drained banks of irrigation ditches and Hospital Creek in the project. Riparian scrub can provide important cover, nesting, forage, and breeding habitat for a diverse array of wildlife; however, the degraded and widely dispersed riparian scrub in the project is of limited value to wildlife. RMC Pacific Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project 4.9-3 ESA/203015 Draft Environmental Impact Report May 2006 r