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T a nearby project site in the fall and winter months but acknowledges that its presence would be unlikely. Realigning the 7,600-foot reach of Little Johns Creek may have temporary impacts on this fish species. Potential impacts to chinook from realighment of the creek include temporary disturbance to the creek, resulting in a temporary loss of a potential migration corridor. The proposed mitigation would replace the 7,600-foot reach (with an average 46-foot floodplain width) with a 7,$00-foot reach (with a 200-foot floodplain width)and riparian vegetation within an average 220-foot meander. The widened floodplain width and enhanced riparian vegetation would be beneficial to fish species. Sacramento River fall/late-fall chinook salmon was proposed for listing as Threatened in,the Federal Register by NMFS on February 26, 1998, and is a California Species of Special Concern. As a proposed listed species,.this salmon is not formally protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act. However, for planning urposes, it is prudent for project proponents to treat proposed listed species as though they were going to be listed. NMFS states that this fish species could be present in Little Johns Creek along a nearby project site in the fall and winter months. Central California steelhead is a Federal proposed Endangered species and is a California Species of Special Concern. NMFS states that this fish could be present in Little Johns Creek, although the likelihood is low. , Sacramento splittail is a Federal proposed Threatened species and is a California Species of Special Concern. Sacramento splittail is endemic to the Central Valley of California. USFWS states that there is a low likelihood this fish occurs in Little Johns Creek. However, USFWS acknowledges that this fish could possibly get as far upstream in Little Johns Creek at the project site during wet years. To avoid impacting Sacramento River winter chinook salmon, the Sacramento River fall/late-fall chinook salmon, the Central California steelhead, and the Sacramento splittail fish species in Little Johns Creek, all proposed work that would impact this creek should occur in the summer months when this salmon would not be migrating/spawning in this creek. Additionally, to avoid impacting Sacramento splittail populations potentially present in Little Johns Creek, and to avoid impacts to other sensitive fish species potentially �. present in this creek, work in the creek should only be conducted between July 31 and September 30. If j work must occur during the fall/winter months, the NMFS should be contacted for other possible mitigation requirements. Other mitigation would include conducting turbidity studies to determine if the work would be detrimental to Sacramento River winter chinook salmon. Further mitigation for non-summer work would be in accordancewith recommendations provided by NMFS. The giant garter snake is State-and Federally-listed as Threatened. It is likely that the USFWS and CDFG would consider the creek channel on the project site to be giant garter snake habitat based on consultationI P 1 with these agencies on a nearby site on the North Branch of the South Fork of Little Johns Creek. It is not � known if the portion of this creek that is on the project site is occupied by giant garter snakes. Typically, a buffer extending 200 feet from the banks of occupied creek channels may be considered as upland habitat in addition to the creek channel. However, the habitat value of adjacent uplands is reduced by annual cultivation of the Brocchini property to the south and landfill operations to the north. Therefore,the area that is assumed to provide suitable giant garter snake habitat(in the absence of surveys)is limited to the top of banks. Approximately 8.03 acres of aquatic and associated upland habitat(assuming an average floodplain width of 45 feet and a reach length of 7,600 feet) will be altered and realigned as a result of the proposed relocation of the creek. A wetland mitigation plan.has been approved for the project(Jones and Stokes, 1996). Giant garter snake I habitat issues incorporated into the plan were discussed in informal consultation with USFWS and CDFG j• (Niblock, Pers. comm.). Under the approved wetland mitigation plan, a total of 35.8 acres (length of realigned reach by average floodplain width), or 39.4 acres if the riparian vegetation is included, would i replace aquatic and associated habitat. This habitat would be replaced at an approximately 4.5:1 replacement ratio. San Joaquin County GP-99-7, ZR-99-6, UP-99-17, ER-99-21City of Stockton Community Development Page 12 -• i