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i U ! San Joaquin Kit Fox The San Joaquin kit fox is state-listed as Threatened and federally-listed as Endangered. This species, which is usually found in open grasslands and shrublands, is known to occur in the vicinity of the project site. According to the Draft Habitat Conservation Plan, San Joaquin Kit Fox, Western San Joaquin County (EIP, 1993), the project site is within the "East Buffer Area"which was established to provide a buffer between future urban areas and the "Core Conservation Area," located west of Interstate 580 and Interstate 5 (Monk and Associates, 1995). .; The CN.DDB contains several records of San Joaquin kit fox observations in the vicinity of the project site. The majority of these observations have occurred in the foothills west of Interstate 5 but kit fox tracks have also recently been identified along Hospital Creek underneath the Interstate 5 overpass (Monk and Associates, 1995). In 1990 and 1992, San Joaquin kit fox surveys were conducted within and adjacent to the triangle formed by State Route 132, 1-5, and 1-580. No kit fox or evidence of kit fox use of this area was found during either survey (Jones and Stokes, 1992). During the February 20, 1997 reconnaissance-level survey, no evidence of kit fox presence on the project site was found. Even though they were not observed, the USFWS has stated that kit fox likely occur on the project site (S. Larsen, Pers. comm., 1997). Hawk Swainson's k a The Swainson's hawk is state-listed as Threatened under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). In the Central Valley, Swainson's hawks typically nest in trees along riparian corridors or in isolated oak and walnut groves adjacent to agricultural areas. Swainson's hawks prefer to forage in grasslands, alfalfa fields, and some row crops. Atfatfa fields are especially important because small rodents (the primary prey item for Swainson's hawk during the nesting season) are often abundant in these fields. According to the CNDDB, three Swainson's hawk nest sites have been found within approximately 6 to 9 miles of the project site. Swainson's hawks are known to forage in i areas greater than 10 miles from the nest. Therefore, this species could potentially occur on-site during the nesting season. However, Swainson's hawks are not expected to use the project site because no nests sites are known in the immediate vicinity of the project} site and because orchards are not important foraging habitat. The CDFG concurred that the Swainson's hawk would rarely occur on the project site and the project site is not considered important foraging habitat (D. Gifford, pers. comm., 1997). Western Burrowing Owl E CDFG has identified the burrowing owl as a California Species of Special Concern. Burrowing owls and their burrows are protected under §3503.5 of the California Fish and Game Code. Burrowing owls have been observed in the vicinity of the project site and, in 1992 an active burrow was found along Hospital Creek, 2.7 miles southwest of the 1-58011-5 Draft Environmental Impact Report 4-99 ER-96-3