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the best route to burn areas. Once a route is determined, vehicles will remain on route and/or within excavated areas. • Areas of special concern (i.e. high density of existing burrows)will be demarcated by a qualified biologist and avoided. • San Joaquin Coachwhip (Whipsnake). The San Joaquin whipsnake (Masticophis flagellum ruddocki; SJW) is a federal Species of Concern and also a California Species of Concern. SJW prefer and regions with open terrain.They are most abundant in habitat with little or no trees consisting of valley grassland, pastureland, or saltbrush scrub. SJW require mammal burrows (and less frequently, bushes, trees, or rock piles)for cover. Their diet consists of rodents, lizards and eggs, snakes, birds and eggs, young turtles, insects, and carrion. SJW mate in April and May, eggs are laid in June and July, and young begin to appear in August or early September (CDFG 2003). Conservation Measures Document review indicates that the project site is within range of the SJW.The CNDDB reported one occurrence in 1991 of the SJW in the project vicinity and states that SJW are"presumed extant." Based on observations, it appears that the Site could provide suitable habitat for the SJW. The following measures to avoid impact to SJW will be incorporated into the project because there is a moderate to high potential for SJW to occur in the project site vicinity: • Vehicles moving around the project site, including trucks and excavators,will remain to the fullest extent possible on existing access roads. Several roads exist at the Site which area already compacted and do not contain burrows. • Existing burrows that the SJW may use for shelter will be avoided to the fullest extent possible. In the event that a vehicle must travel off road to excavate existing burn areas, a qualified biologist will examine off road areas to ascertain the best route to burn areas. Once a route is determined, vehicles will remain on route and/or within excavated areas. • Areas of special concern (i.e. high density of existing burrows)will be demarcated by a qualified biologist and avoided. • If a SJW, or other animal species, is seen by equipment operators to be basking or traveling across roadways, it will be avoided to the extent possible and passively encouraged to move in a safe direction out of the way of vehicular traffic. • California Horned Lizard. The California horned lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum frontale; CHL) is a federal Species of Concern and a California Species of Concern and CDFG Protected species. CHL occur in valley-foothill riparian, valley-foothill hardwoods, hardwood conifer, and annual grassy habitats. CHL prefer open country, especially sandy areas, washes, floodplains, and wind blown deposits. CHL consume insects and forage on the ground in open areas. Little is known about the reproductive cycle of CHL; the reproductive season varies and egg laying may extend from late May through June (CDFG 2003). CHL are a diurnal lizard and most activity occurs during the middle of the day. Nocturnal activity may occur during particularly warm periods. Fall and winter are inactive periods in most areas. CHL spend periods of inactivity and winter hibernation 20