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Biological Resources Evaluation Report Griffith Energy Project • Is extirpated from California or,in the case of birds,is extirpated in its primary season or breeding role; • Is Federally listed, but not State listed, as threatened or endangered; meets the State definition of threatened or endangered but has not formally been listed; • Is experiencing,or formerly experienced,serious(noncyclical)population declines or range retractions (not reversed)that,if continued or resumed,could qualify it for State threatened or endangered status; and/or • Has naturally small populations exhibiting high susceptibility to risk from any factor(s),that if realized, could lead to declines that would qualify it for State threatened or endangered status. WL=CDFW Watch List:animal taxa that were previously designated as SSC but no longer merit that status,or which do not yet meet SSC criteria,but for which there is concern and a need for additional information to clarify status. 5.2 Vegetation Communities The Project site was undeveloped other than three small residential areas. Two hills, both approximately 100-feet tall with slopes of 25 percent, were located in the western and eastern portions of the Project site. Two smaller hills, both approximately 50 to 60 feet tall,were located in the southeast and southwest corners of the Project site. The vegetation on the Project site was dominated by non-native herbs; grazing on the Project site has greatly reduced the cover of non-native grasses such as slender oat(Avena sp.)and brome (Bromus sp.) as compared to surrounding areas that are not grazed. This change in community structure between grazed and not grazed areas was evident along fence lines on the Project boundary, as seen in Photo 12 (Appendix A). One small patch of the non-native Russian thistle (Salsola sp.) and a small area (approximately 15,000-square feet) of cut logs and leaf litter were found in the southeast corner of the Project site. Ornamental and non-native trees, such as Pepper trees (Schinus sp.), were found on the Project site and 150-meter buffer in residential areas. One erosional feature, with no wetland vegetation or standing water at the time of survey,was located in the northern portion of the Project site(Figure 5).Within the 150-meter buffer, there was another erosional feature that had collected pooled water from a previous rain event. This feature was mapped as open water and is discussed below. Vegetation communities within the BSA were mapped during the survey (Table 3 and Figure 5). No sensitive natural communities were found in the BSA. Table 3. Vegetation Communities Vegetation Communities Acres within Acres within 150- Project Site meter Buffer Avena spp.—Bromus spp. herbaceous 102.6 100.2 semi-natural alliance Developed 0 4.6 Disturbed 0 0.1 Open Water 0 0.5 Residential 3.4 11 Total 106.0 116.4 Avena spp. — Bromus spp. Herbaceous Semi-Natural Alliance. The majority of the BSA was Avena spp. — Bromus spp. herbaceous semi-natural alliance. Although patches of annual grasses were present, this community is regularly grazed by cattle, and grazing has greatly reduced the cover of grasses. Most of the ground cover in this community was composed of non-native filaree (Erodium sp.), but patches of cheeseweed (Malva parviflora), black mustard (Brassica nigra), and greenstem filaree (Erodium moschatum) were also present, particularly along hillslopes. Low cover of Russian thistle was also found in the southwest corner the Project site. Numerous small mammal burrows and burrow networks were scattered in the Project site,which could serve as habitat for estivating special-status amphibians(CTS and Tetra Tech, Inc. 5-3 July 2023