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Rare Plant Survey Report Griffith Energy Storage Project <br /> 3.0 SURVEY METHODS <br /> A literature review was conducted that included the California Department of Fish and Wildlife <br /> California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) RareFind 5 online database and the California Native <br /> Plant Society online Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (CDFW 2022). Based on the <br /> literature review and general biological survey results,two rare plants were determined to have <br /> potential to occur on the Project site: big tarplant and caper-fruited tropidocarpum (CDFW 2022;Tetra <br /> Tech 2022). Previous CNDDB records of big tarplant and caper-fruited tropidocarpum are located <br /> outside the Project site; big tarplant was previously found approximately 25 feet to the west of the <br /> Project site in 2003 and caper-fruited tropidocarpum was found approximately 120 feet to the <br /> northwest of the Project site in 1987(CDFW 2022,CNPS 2021). <br /> Caper-fruited tropidocarpum blooms from March to April and big tarplant blooms from July to <br /> November.Therefore,two rare plant surveys were conducted on the Project site to capture the <br /> blooming periods of the rare plant species with the potential to occur onsite.The first rare plant <br /> survey for caper-fruited tropidocarpum was conducted in March 2022.The second rare plant survey <br /> for big tarplant was conducted in September 2022.Two biologists surveyed the entire Project site <br /> during each survey by walking meandering transects throughout the Project site.Transects were <br /> spaced 30 meters apart to ensure 100 percent visual coverage of the Project site.All plant species <br /> found onsite were identified and recorded.The surveys were conducted during daylight hours and <br /> clear conditions at temperatures of approximately 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit.Any rare plant <br /> populations found onsite were mapped using a sub-meter accuracy Global Positioning System unit <br /> and individuals were counted. Photographs that were taken during the surveys are provided in <br /> Appendix A. <br /> OTETRA TECH 7 July 2023 <br />