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Biological Resources Evaluation Report <br /> Griffith Energy Project <br /> 5.5 Special-Status Species Habitat Assessment <br /> 5.5.1 Rare Plants <br /> All rare plants that have the potential to occur onsite are annuals, and therefore, could not be observed <br /> during the time of survey(January). Potential rare plants that occur in vernal pool or wetland habitats would <br /> not occur onsite since these habitats were not observed during the survey. The rare plants that could occur <br /> onsite are those suited for sandy loam or clay soil types in annual grassland habitat (e.g., Avena spp. — <br /> Bromus spp.herbaceous semi-natural alliance).These species along with their Federal status,State status, <br /> and/or California Rare Plant Rank (CRPR)are listed in Table 6. <br /> 5.5.2 California Tiger Salamander <br /> CTS is a Federally and State threatened species. This species has been previously documented several <br /> times, between 2015-2016, 3 miles from the Project site (CDFW 2021 a). Ephemeral ponds lasting at least <br /> 30 days for breeding and an additional 10 weeks for larval development are necessary for successful <br /> breeding (USFWS 2004). Suitable breeding habitat consists of vernal pools, stock ponds, or other <br /> ephemeral wetlands that do not contain fish or bullfrog predators. Emergent or submerged vegetation or <br /> debris is necessary for egg attachment. Suitable upland habitat includes grazed annual grassland no further <br /> than 1.24 miles from a known or potential breeding site(USFWS 2003). Networks of small mammal burrows <br /> in upland habitat are necessary for CTS estivation (Pittman 2005). Because the Project site has many <br /> California ground squirrel burrows (Figure 6) but no ephemeral sources of water that could provide CTS <br /> breeding habitat, the Project site is potential upland habitat only.Although CTS larvae have been recorded <br /> in cattle troughs (Alvarez et al. 2021), the concrete cattle trough found onsite is unlikely to be used as <br /> breeding habitat because there was no bank or slope for CTS to access the water in the trough and CTS <br /> cannot climb over structures greater than 15 inches (Langton 2021). Three California slender salamanders <br /> (Batrachoseps attenuates) were observed during the survey at the surface of the soil under the cover of <br /> logs, indicating that soils may hold enough moisture during the dry season to support estivating amphibians. <br /> 5.5.2.1 Assessment of Barriers to California Tiger Salamander Migration <br /> An assessment was conducted to analyze potential barriers to CTS migration between potential breeding <br /> ponds/pools and the Project site.The nearest known breeding site is 2 miles to the southwest of the Project <br /> site; migration from this area was not considered in the analysis because it is further than 1.24 miles from <br /> the Project site. A total of six aquatic features within 1.24 miles of the Project site were visited. Three <br /> additional aquatic features that could serve as potential breeding pools were identified within 1.24 miles but <br /> could not be visited because they are on private land. Out of the six aquatic features visited, only one <br /> potential CTS breeding pond was identified, which was 1 mile from the Project site (Pool 1, Photo 10, <br /> Appendix A). A map of potential breeding pools and barriers is provided in Figure 7. <br /> Tetra Tech, Inc. 5-7 July 2023 <br />