ARCHIVED REPORTS_DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

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project completion,the habitat may not be restored to the same quality that existed before project implementation. Disturbance of habitat in the project area could adversely affect plants and wildlife that inhabit agricultural and annual grassland habitats. However,most of the species present in the project area are common and widely distributed throughout the county, and implementation of the proposed project would not substantially effect regional populations of common species throughout the region. Therefore,the potential disturbance or alteration of habitat for common plants and wildlife species present in the project area would be a less-than-significant impact. IMPACT Terrestrial Biological Resources—Impacts on Special-Status Plants. Implementation of the proposed 4.5-2 project would result in loss and disturbance of riparian, freshwater marsh, and annual grassland habitat that could potentially support 13 special-status plant species. This impact would be potentially significant. Thirteen special-status plants have been known to exist or have potential to exist in the vicinity of the project area: Suisun Marsh aster, alkali milk vetch, San Joaquin spearscale,lesser spearscale, slough thistle,recurved larkspur, Delta button celery,rose-mallow,Delta tule pea,Delta mudwort, Sanford's arrowhead,Wright's trichcoronis, and Greene's tuctoria. Approximately 5.5 acres of riparian, freshwater marsh, and annual grassland habitat that potentially provides habitat for these special-status plants would be disturbed as a result of implementation of the proposed project.No special-status plant sightings have been reported in the project area, and no special-status plant species were observed during the reconnaissance-level surveys. However,the potential for their existence in the project area cannot be dismissed because some areas of annual grassland habitat were not accessible during the reconnaissance-level surveys,one of the surveys was not carried out during a time of year when most of the special-status plants would be recognizable, and protocol-level special-status plant surveys have not been conducted. Because the project could result in the potential loss of special-status plants,this would be a potentially significant impact. IMPACT Terrestrial Biological Resources—Impacts on Vernal Pool Crustaceans, California Tiger Salamander, 4.5-3 and Western Spadefoot Toad. Implementation of the proposed project would result in loss and disturbance of annual grassland habitat that could support vernal pools and other wetlands suitable for vernal pool crustacean species, California tiger salamander, and western spadefoot. This impact would be potentially significant. Construction of the proposed wastewater collection system alignment approximately 900 feet north of Yosemite Avenue and the effluent outfall pipeline alignment could result in disturbance and/or loss of suitable habitat for vernal pool crustaceans, California tiger salamander, and western spadefoot toad.No vernal pool invertebrate or spadefoot sightings have been reported within 5 miles of the project area. However, some annual grassland habitat in the project area was not surveyed during the July 2006 reconnaissance survey because of limited access, and observations made during the survey indicated that wetland habitats suitable for these species could be present in the grasslands along the proposed wastewater collection system alignment approximately 900 feet north of Yosemite Avenue and the effluent outfall pipeline alignment. A CNDDB sighting of California tiger salamander larvae was recorded in 1996 on the south side of SR 120,near the junction of McKinley Road, south of Lathrop. CNDDB records indicate that tiger salamander larvae were observed within a seasonal pond created by the berm of SR 120. This observation site is surrounded by residential development and cattle fields. During the reconnaissance survey,no ponds were visible in this area. However,the adjacent agricultural fields that were not assessable for surveying were observed from a distance to have ponded water that could be potential habitat for the tiger salamander.No suitable habitat for vernal pool crustaceans, California tiger salamander, and western spadefoot toad was observed at the WQCF site or along other proposed project pipeline alignments. Construction of the proposed wastewater collection system alignment approximately 900 feet north of Yosemite Avenue and the effluent outfall pipeline alignment could result in loss of habitat and direct loss of individuals of vernal pool crustaceans,western spadefoot, and California tiger salamander,which would be a potentially significant impact. EDAW Manteca WQCF and Collection System Master Plans EIR Terrestrial Biological Resources 4.5-28 City of Manteca