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4.Environmental Analysis — grasslands. The species breeds in the vicinity if the project;during 2005 surveys,an adult — loggerhead shrike was observed feeding a fledgling. Sensitive Natural Community A sensitive natural community is a biological community that is regionally rare,provides important habitat opportunities for wildlife, is structurally complex, or is in other ways of special — concern to local, state, or federal agencies. CEQA identifies the elimination of such communities as a significant impact. The CDFG tracks sensitive natural communities in the CNDDB. Scalebroom scrub is a sensitive natural community, elements of which occur within the project. — The scalebroom scrub community within the project is very limited and severely degraded. Wetlands and Other Waters of the U.S. — Wetlands are ecologically complex habitats that support a variety of plant and animal species. See the Regulatory Setting section,below,for a definition of a jurisdictional wetland and other waters of the U.S. A wetland delineation was conducted within the project area by ESA biologist Joshua Boldt on May 4,2005. Approximately 5,466 linear feet(2.38 acres) of jurisdictional waters of the U.S. were identified on the project site.Jurisdictional waters on the project site consist of an ephemeral channel.There are no jurisdictional wetlands located within the study area. Three artificial overflow irrigation basins, which collect excess irrigation from the orchards on site, — exhibit wetland characteristics such as a prevalence of hydrophytic vegetation, wetland hydrology, and/or hydric soils. However, these basins are hydrologically disconnected from any waters of the U.S. and are therefore considered"isolated"from navigable waters vis-it-vis the — SWANCC decision, and would not be considered jurisdictional waters of the U.S. In addition, these basins are artificially irrigated areas,and would revert to uplands if the irrigation ceased. Finally,these basins are likely to have been built in former uplands(based on topography and soil — mapping of upland soils). These findings are detailed in Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project Wetland — Delineation Report(ESA, 2005)and subject to verification in writing by the Corps. Regulatory Setting Federal Waterway and Wetland Regulations Wetlands are ecologically productive habitats that support a rich variety of both plant and animal life. The importance and sensitivity of wetlands has increased as a result of a growing understanding of their function as recharge areas and filters for water supplies. Below is the — federal definition of a wetland. U.S.Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Definition The federal government defines wetlands in Section 404 of the Clean Water Act as"areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support(and do support,under normal circumstances) a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions" (33 CFR 328.3[b] and 40 CFR 230.3). Under normal RMC Padfic Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project 4.9-8 ESA 1203015 Draft Environmental Impact Report May 2006