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4.2 – Biological Resources Draft Environmental Impact Report February 2021 14800 W. Schulte Road Logistics Center 4.2-10 The Project site currently provides suitable foraging habitat for burrowing owl, which would be removed during Project construction, thereby reducing the available foraging habitat for burrowing owl. However, no suitable burrows or ground squirrel activity were observed on the site during the field survey conducted by Dudek biologists. Burrowing owls require ground burrows for nesting, and therefore the site does not currently provide nesting opportunities for this species. Additionally, the site is relatively small compared to the surrounding agricultural area, which may contain suitable habitat for the species. Therefore, the removal of approximately 37.7 acres of foraging habitat constitutes a less-than-significant impact to this species. Shrubs, bare ground, abandoned equipment, and built structures in or adjacent to the Project site and surrounding areas provide suitable nesting habitat for several local and migratory bird species protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Construction activities such as grading and operation of heavy equipment could result in the abandonment or failure of active nests either through direct destruction of nests or through indirect effects from noise and vibration associated with construction equipment. Additionally, protected spe cies could become trapped in construction equipment or materials present on the site, such as small pipes with uncapped ends. With implementation of MM-BIO-2, which involves pre-construction surveys and nest avoidance if an active nest is detected, and MM-BIO-3, which includes measures to prevent unintentional wildlife entrapment such as capping ends of pipes and limiting (when feasible) suitable resources for birds to nest or perch on the Project site, potential direct impacts to protected nesting birds wo uld be avoided and minimized, and impacts would be less than significant. Threshold B: Would the Project have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? No Impact. The entire site is composed of disturbed/developed land because it was previously and recently the site of a biomass plant; it does not support any native vegetation communities. No riparian habitat or other sensitive natural communities are present on or adjacent to the Project site. According to the NWI and USGS topographic quad map containing the Project site, there are no wetlands or other waters previously mapped within the Project site that could support riparian vegetation (USFWS 2020b). Dominant plant species observed on the Project site during the field survey consisted of upland species. Constructed basins on the Project site were investigated for wetland plants and evidence of wetland soil and hydrology. These basins were primarily dominated by non -native plants normally associated with upland environments, including Russian thistle, five horn bassia, mouse barley (Hordeum murinum), and annual dogtails (Cynosurus echinatus). These species would not constitute riparian habitat. Thus, no impact to riparian habitat or other sensitive communities would occur as a result of the Project. Threshold C: Would the Project have a substantial adverse effect on state or federally protected wetlands (including, but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means? Less-than-Significant Impact. A formal jurisdiction delineation of the Project site was not conducted during the field survey. However, no potentially jurisdictional aquatic resources were identified during the field survey. According to the NWI and USGS topographic quad map containing the Project site, there are no wetlands or other waters previously mapped within the Project site (USFWS 2020b). Dominant plant species observed on the Project site during the field survey consisted of upland species not associated with wetland or stream features. Constructed basins on the Project site were investigated for wetland plants and evidence of wetland soil and hydrology. These basins were primarily dominated by non-native plants normally associated with upland environments, including Russian thistle, five horn bassia, mouse barley (Hordeum murinum), and annual dogtails (Cynosurus echinatus).