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Page 76 i ruderal areas. Native riparian species are slowly re-establishing in small numbers along the creek, including small seedlings or saplings of willows(Salix spp.)cottonwood Po lus emontii valley( al oak Pu �' ) , ey (Quercus lobata),California rose(Rosa californica)and creeping wildrye(Leymus triticoides). The agricultural drainage ditch conveys runoff from fields to the east of Austin Road to Little Johns i Creek. It is 360 feet in length and averages 5 feet wide. A stand ofroximatel app y 14 valley oak trees with stem diameters ranging in size from four to twenty-four inches borders the ditch. The understory i consists of weedy non-native species and a large population of native aster(Aster radulinus). f I � � Valley freshwater marsh typically occurs in low-tying sites that are permanently flooded with fresh water and lacking significant current. Vertebrate species that may occur within the aquatic habitat are Pacific chorus frog(Pseudacris regilla),western terrestrial garter snake(Thamnophis elegans),mallard(Areas platyrhynchos),cinnamon teal(Arras cyanoptera),great blue heron(Ardea hero&as),common snipe (Gallihago gallinago),snowy egret(Egretta thula),and black phoebe(Sayornis nigricans). Western pond turtle(Clemmys marmorata),California toad(Bufo boreal halophilus), and introduced bullfrog (Rana catesbiana)are all possibly present Aerial foraging species that hunt over marshy areas with open water include various bats and swallows. Oak Trees In addition to the 14 oak trees adjacent to Drainage A,another eighteen valley oaks(Quercus lobata) i occur on the site, as shown on Figure F-1. These trees range from 8 to 71 inches dbh(diameter at breast height). Valley oaks are recognized as important elements of the historic landscape,and provide valuable habitat for many species of wildlife. Oak woodland habitats provide both food and shelter for a number of species. Thirty bird species,with f acorns as part of their diet,are known to use oak habitats(Verner 1980). In habitats where oaks comprise ' a significant proportion of the canopy,Verner(1980)reported 110 species of birds during breeding season. Species found in this habitat include European starling,California quail(Callipepla californica), lain titmouse ) jay(Ap f ) ( p p (Faros inornatus ,scrub' helocoma call ornica ,rufous-sided towhee(Pipilo erythrophthalmus),Bewick's wren(Thryomanes bewickii),bushtit(Psaltriparus minimus),and acorn woodpecker(Melanerpes formicivorus). Many mammals are also known to utilize valley oak woodland to some extent(Barrett 1980). These mammals include western gray squirrels and mule deer(Deukmejian,- et al. 1980). Removal of heritage trees and native oak trees must be in accordance with the County tree ordinance (County of San Joaquin,Development Title,Chapter 9-1505). Special Status Species � l Regulatory Setting. Special status species include those listed by the Federal or State governments as endangered or.threatened,or that are proposed for such listing. These species are protected under the Federal and California Endangered Species Acts. Also included are plants on Lists IA, 1B and 2 of the California Native Plant Society'Inventory(Skinner and Pavlik, 1994),and plants that otherwise meet the criteria of rare or endangered in the CEQA Guidelines. Please refer to Appendix D of the 1994 EIR for further explanation of the legal protection and classification of special status species. k Special Status Species at the Project Site. Since the 1994 EIR was prepared there have been several changes in the designation of several special-status species with potential to occur on the site. This GR4SSETTI ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING �I