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Page 73 a - F. VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE I Introduction This section summarizes and updates local biological resources described in the 1994 EIR(City of Stockton, 1994). A recent reconnaissance of the project site,conducted on September 23, 1999, confirmed that overall conditions for biological resources remains much as it was described in the earlier p document. Land use patterns within the immediate project have not changed. The existing landfill site is surrounded by primarily agricultural lands. Within the past two years,the North Branch of the South Fork of Little Johns Creek on the site has undergone maintenance for flood control,consisting of clearing i of trees and shrubs from the banks and dense vegetation from the channel. �J The following summarizes the original discussion of biological resources and amends it as necessary with new information. ttin Plant and Wildlife Communities Use of the site for agriculture has eliminated most natural vegetation. The site consists of abandoned agricultural fields and non-native grassland(CYA property and the triangular properties),active agricultural fields(Brocchini property), and wetland drainages(Little Johns Creek and un-named i irrigation ditch). Appendix C includes cumulative lists of plant and wildlife species observed on the site during surveys in 1993, 1997 and 1999. Non-Native Annual Grassland Non-native annual grasses and other weeds dominate most of the CYA and triangular properties,as well as peripheries of the Brocchini property,totaling 136 acres. The most abundant species include slender oats(Avena barbata),ri t brome(Bromus&andrus ,Italian a ass Lolium multi arum wild p� } rye� ( .fl }, mustard(Brassica campestris),Italian thistle(Carduus pycnocephala),yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstihalis). Non-native grasslands are used by many mammal and bird species for foraging and breeding. Deer mouse(Peromyscus maniculatus),Botta's pocket gopher(Thomomys bottae),California vole(Microtus californicus),San Joaquin pocket mouse(Perognathus inornatus),black-tailed hare(Lepus californicus), and California ground squirrel(Spermophilus beeche)i)are commonly associated with this habitat type. American badgers(Taxus taxidea)and coyotes(Canis latrans)can also be found here. Raptors known to use grasslands include the white-tailed kite(Elanus leucurus),northern harrier(Circus cyaneus),and prairie falcon(Falco mexicanus). Burrowing owl(Speotyto cunicularia),barn owl(Tyto alba),great- horned owl(Bubo wrrnianus),homed lark(Eremophila alpestris actia)and western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)can use the site for breeding. Reptiles that can breed in grasslands include western fence lizard(Sceloporus occidentalis),common garter snake(Thamnophis sirtalis)and western rattlesnake(Crotalus Wridis)(Basey and Sinclear 1980). Gopher snake(Pituophis melanoleucus),king snake(Lampropeltis zonata), and western rattlesnake may inhabit the area. Skunk(Mephitis mephitis)and red fox(Vulpes vulpes)are also associated with grasslands in this area. GR4SSEM ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING