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Biological Resources Evaluation Report Griffith Energy Project Table 5. Potential Barriers to California Tiger Salamander Migration Potential Pool Barrier Location Affected Impact to California Tiger Salamander Migration by Barrier The substation has a raised concrete foundation that covers approximately 75 acres within the 1.24-mile buffer. Since this is Approximately a type of high-density development, it could affect CTS PG&E Tesla 0.3 miles west migration depending on which direction CTS move from Pool 1. Substation of the Project 1 If CTS meander northeast from Pool 1, they would reach this site barrier. However,the substation can be avoided by CTS traveling from Pool 1 if they migrate directly east towards the Project site. Therefore, this substation is a partial barrier to CTS migration. The railroad acts as a barrier in areas where it is on a raised berm. The berm is at an approximately 33 percent slope and Approximately occurs along the ephemeral stream crossing from Pool 2 Union Pacific 0.3 miles towards the Project site(Figure 7).Therefore, CTS migration Railroad south of the 2 from Pool 2 would be impeded. However, CTS migration from Project site Pools 3 and 4 would not be impeded by the railroad because dispersal from the southeast portion of the 1.24-mile buffer would not require crossing slopes greater than 14 percent. Lack of development south of the Project site has resulted in relatively unimpeded potential CTS migration from most potential breeding ponds in that area.Specifically, migration from Pool 1 is affected by one partial barrier, dispersal from Pool 2 is affected by one barrier, and Pools 3 and 4 have no barriers to CTS migration. Based on this assessment, CTS could migrate through the Project site. 5.5.3 California Red-Legged Frog CRLF is a Federally threatened species and a CDFW Species of Special Concern. The Project site is not located within CRLF Critical Habitat; however, the Project site provides potential estivation habitat in the form of a perennial cattle trough and California ground squirrel burrows. Ideally, breeding habitat has emergent vegetation and still or slow-moving water at 2-foot depth or deeper. Water must last a minimum of 4-6 months for breeding and metamorphosis. This species is also known to use stock ponds and cattle troughs for breeding (Hemingway 2005). Ideal upland habitat are creek, seeps, or freshwater-spring corridors with riparian vegetation, but this species can occupy different types of upland habitats, including annual grassland (e.g.,Avena spp.—Bromus spp. herbaceous semi-natural alliance). CRLF upland habitat is typically located within 1 mile of a breeding site. The Project site is not within a 1-mile distance of known CRLF breeding habitat. Although there are no known breeding ponds within a 1-mile distance from the Project site (CDFW 2021 a), there are two potential breeding ponds within 1 mile of the site. One pond is covered in bulrush (Scripus sp.) and is located 120 feet north of Via Nicolo Road, approximately 1 mile east of the Project site (Pool 5, Figure 7). If this pond holds water, then it could provide potential breeding habitat for CRLF. Pool 1 may also provide potential breeding habitat for CRLF but is located at the maximum dispersal distance for this species of 1 mile(Figure 7). Based on the NWI search and aerial imagery,there are at least seven additional cattle ponds that hold water through August, approximately 1.5 miles to the west and southwest of the Project site. The Project site is also surrounded by four ephemeral creeks within 0.5 to 1 mile which could facilitate safe dispersal for CRLF from these potential breeding sites to the Project site. CNDDB records have previously documented one breeding pond 1.5 miles northwest of the Project site in 2004 (CDFW 2021 a). CNDDB records also document this species 2 miles from the project site in 1996, 2001, 2004, and 2008 (CDFW 2021 a). In addition, within 3 to 5 miles from the Project site, the CNDDB has records of eight breeding ponds(CDFW 2021 a).About half of these sites are within Corral Hollow Creek; however,dispersal from this Creek to the Project site is unlikely because CRLF would have to migrate over a steep elevation Tetra Tech, Inc. 5-11 July 2023