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Biological Resources Evaluation Report Griffith Energy Project gain (approximately 500 feet) and this species does not appear to use slopes greater than 30-40 degrees (USFWS 2000). Considering these factors, the Project site may provide upland habitat that could be used by CRLF. 5.5.4 Special-Status Reptiles California glossy snake, San Joaquin coachwhip, and coast horned lizard are each a CDFW Species of Special Concern. These reptiles inhabit grassland habitats (e.g., Avena spp. — Bromus spp. herbaceous semi-natural alliance). California glossy snake is a primarily fossorial species and is found in areas with sandy and loose soils. The most recent sighting was 3 miles from the Project site in 2010 (CDFW 2021 a). The closest occurrence is one mile north of the Project site in 1994 (CDFW 2021a). The San Joaquin coachwhip inhabits open, valley grassland habitats with sparse shrub cover. They require small mammal burrows for egg-laying and refuge from extreme temperatures. The most recent sighting was 5 miles from the Project site and the nearest sighting from the Project site was 0.5 mile in 1996 (CDFW 2021a). The coast horned lizard frequents a wide variety of habitats but is most common in lowlands along sandy washes with scattered low bushes. The most recent sighting of this species was 5 miles from the Project site in 2003 (CDFW 2021 a). Due to the lack of sandy substrates for burrowing and suitable prey base, the coast horned lizard does not have habitat on the Project site. The Project site provides potential habitat for the California glossy snake and San Joaquin coachwhip. 5.5.5 Burrowing Owl BUOW is a CDFW Species of Special Concern. BUOWs breed and live in burrows and use coastal prairie, coastal scrub, Great Basin grassland, Great Basin scrub, Mojavean Desert scrub, Sonoran Desert scrub, and valley and foothill grassland habitats as well as agricultural areas or any open dry area with low vegetation. The Project site is in the known distributional range of the BUOW, and the site contains potentially suitable BUOW habitat due to low-growing vegetation and abundance of small mammals found during the field survey. In addition,this species has been previously documented on the Project site in June 2007 (CDFW 2021 a). A total of eight potentially suitable burrows, likely dug by California ground squirrels, and one burrow surrogate (i.e., culvert)were found within the Project site during the survey.These burrows had entrance diameters greater than approximately 4 inches and were above 60 inches in depth, and therefore, were considered potentially suitable for BUOW. No BUOW sign was observed at the potential burrows or burrow surrogates. 5.5.6 Swainson's Hawk Swainson's hawk is listed as a State threatened species and the San Joaquin Valley hosts the majority of California's breeding pairs. This species nests primarily in riparian or isolated trees between March 1 and September 15. Although no Swainson's hawks were observed during the general biological survey, adult Swainson's hawks are not expected to be in the San Joaquin Valley in January. Trees within the Project boundary are not suitable nesting habitat for Swainson's hawk or other raptors. Although trees in the BSA met the height and foliage cover requirements for Swainson's hawk nesting and are considered potential habitat, these residential areas undergo high levels of disturbance (e.g., vehicle traffic, dogs, human activity). Adjacent areas in the 0.5-mile buffer undergo comparably less disturbance. The potential Swainson's hawk and raptor nesting habitat within the Project site and 0.5-mile buffer consisted of over ten transmission towers and numerous 8 to 10-foot trees of various species in residential areas and in stands along Patterson Run. There is no suitable shrub-nesting habitat for Swainson's hawk within the Project site or 150-meter buffer. Altogether, there are over twenty features recorded within the 0.5-mile buffer for Swainson's hawk nesting(Figure 8). One inactive nest, likely belonging to common raven (Corvus corax) or a raptor species, was found in a transmission tower approximately 100 feet from the Tetra Tech, Inc. 5-12 July 2023