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Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Page IV.F-13
<br /> Forward Inc.Landfill 2014 Expansion Project
<br /> vegetation associated with the North Branch of the South Fork of the Littlejohn's Creek provides
<br /> potentially suitable nesting habitat for this species. Potential impacts to this species are
<br /> evaluated later in this section (see Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures), below.
<br /> Burrowing Owl
<br /> The burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia)is designated a California Species of Special Concern by
<br /> the CDFG (2011a). This species receives additional protection under the MBTA and the CFGC''.
<br /> Burrowing owls range throughout the Central Valley, the inner and outer coastal regions,
<br /> portions of the San Francisco Bay Area, the southern California coast from southern California
<br /> to the Mexican Border, the Imperial Valley, and in portions of the desert and high desert
<br /> habitats in southeastern and northeastern California.
<br /> Burrowing owls require habitat with three basic attributes: open, well-drain
<br /> sparse vegetation;and underground burrows or burrow facsimiles. Throughout
<br /> their burrowing owls Occupyed terrain;short,
<br /> grasslands, deserts, sagebrush scrub, agricultural areas (includingrange
<br /> pastures and unfilled margins of cropland),vacant lots, and the margins P ),earthen levees and berms, coastal uplands, urban
<br /> 91
<br /> owls rely on burrows excavated vat d airports,
<br /> ports,golf courses, and roads
<br /> badgers bad y fossorial mammals or reptiles, including grou . squirrels
<br /> badgers, skunks, foxes and co ) Burrowing
<br /> burrows is limited (for exam coyotes. Where the number and availability
<br /> sq s,
<br /> eradicated), owls will occu example, Where burrows have been destroyed or tY of natural
<br /> and other PY drainage culverts, cavities under Y ground squirrels
<br /> tunnel like structures (Haug, et al. 1993 . piles of rubble, discarded
<br /> August, with the peak in
<br /> P Aril and ) Breeding typically occurs March through e,
<br /> P May (CDFG 2005). _
<br /> Burrowing owls have been recorded in several locations w'
<br /> have a moderate potential of occurring in the stud
<br /> landfill areas. The lack(or lowRhin 3 miles of the stud
<br /> within the landfill areas reduce number)kelihood e burrowing
<br /> due to the of r area and
<br /> of rodent burrows and the cons stent control ofrode
<br /> (WRA 2005a). Potential impacts to this species are ev owing owls findin
<br /> Impacts and Mitigation Measures, below), g suitable nesting areas s
<br /> evaluated later in this section (see Potential
<br /> Northern Harrier
<br /> The northern harrier(Circus cyaneus)is a
<br /> typically nests in shrubby California S ,
<br /> mammals, birds Y°egetation at the edge of Species of S ecial
<br /> frogs, small re g marshes and feeds on voles, This species
<br /> grasslands, open rangelands, desert reptiles
<br /> crustaceans
<br /> wetlands (CDFG mks to , and insects. It also oc 'Hall
<br /> 1990). It is unlikely well as freshwater and saltwatercurs m meadows,
<br /> habitat, but it could fora Y. nest in
<br /> this section forage in the area. the study area due to the ack of'nergent
<br /> (see Potential Im Potential impacts to this species
<br /> pacts and Miti ation . are evaluated later in
<br /> California Horned g Measures, below).
<br /> Preferred
<br /> Lark
<br /> Although the California horned lark
<br /> Animal b alley and coastal valleys and foothills Of
<br /> actio
<br /> to identify the CDFG (2011a . ) a,a common species throughout Only
<br /> Joaquin °Cpled habitat, this species can be Y five records in the Special
<br /> q County, Suitable habitat has been Project database
<br /> larks forage in lar commonly lybseen in grasslands throw used
<br /> be found breedin large groups in o en g throughout San
<br /> g on the Valley rasslands, nesting 1 Y agriculture• California horned
<br /> y floor in suitable habits n hollows on the ground and
<br /> 14 CFGC§3503 (levees, cleared fields, etc. . may also
<br /> Breeding
<br />
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