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Draft Environmental Impact Report Page IV.H-2 p P g Forward Inc. Landfill Expansion Project The study area is situated on mostly level ground with a natural elevation of 30-40 feet above mean sea level. The primary proposed landfill expansion area consists of a formerly dry farmed field covering approximately 185 acres situated to the south and west of the existing landfill facility. Landfill operations would also be expanded into approximately 10 acres located in the northeastern corner of the existing facility, along Austin Road, and approximately 11 acres along the existing alignment of the South Branch of the South Fork of Littlejohns Creek,in the southeast of the existing landfill. The upstream end of the South Branch of the South Fork of Littlejohn's Creek forms the southern boundary of the existing landfill and the downstream portion flows along the southern boundary of the proposed expansion area. The proposed new main entrance road would cross the creek channel and a ruderal field supporting a warehouse currently used for sorting and transferring yard waste. Plant Communities and Associated Wildlife The project area is located within an agricultural area of San Joaquin County approximately four miles north of Manteca,within the Central Zone of the SJMSCP(SJCOG 2000). This zone is characterized by primarily urban and agricultural land uses. The study area is characterized as a highly modified environment, supporting very little of the indigenous vegetation. The dominant plant community consists of actively cultivated agricultural fields. Non-native annual grassland is present on fallow or abandoned field edges.. Ruderal vegetation is present on around disturbed facilities and vacant lots. Emergent r freshwater marsh is present along the creek channel. Other than the freshwater marsh, which has colonized the altered and maintained creek channel, no native plant communities are present within the study area. Each of these habitats is discussed below. Anthropogenic Plant Associations. Anthropogenic plant associations are those dominated by plant species introduced by humans and established or maintained by human disturbances or activities (Holland and Keil 1990). Some are entirely artificial such as areas under active cultivation(e.g., rowcrops,orchards, vineyards). Others include areas used as rangeland or pasture, and areas influenced by urban or suburban landscaping or plantings. On such sites, the native vegetation has typically been completely removed by clearing in preparation for cultivation, landscaping, or development. Cleared areas that are planted with or colonized by non-indigenous plant species can create distinct communities dominated by annual grasses and - forbs, shrubs, or trees. Some of these communities are only perpetuated with direct human intervention such as irrigation or grazing, while others are capable of becoming naturalized. In some situations, introduced non-indigenous species invade native habitats, altering the composition of the native understory or canopy, or both. Within the study area, anthropogenic habitats consist of cultivated wheat and hay fields. These lands are mulched with organic vegetable waste which is tilled in. A majority of the study area (185 acres south and west of the existing landfill) was formerly actively cultivated. Non-native herbaceous grasses and fortis are common along the edges of the fields, along drainage ditches and roadsides. Common weedy species in agricultural fields detected on site include prostrate pigweed (Amaranthus blitoides), wild oats (Avena fatua),ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus), foxtail barley (Hordeum murinum ssp. leporinum), prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), soft chess (Bromus hordeaceus), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), cheeseweed (Malva parviflora), stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens), common groundsel(Senecio vulgaris), and spurge (Chamaesyce sp.), among others. At the southern and western edges of the expansion area are several mature valley oak trees (Quercus lobata). No other woody vegetation is present.