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I x € + C The California" tiger salamander commonly inhabits valley grasslands, seeking subterranean spaces such as ground squirrel burrows as residences. The period of greatest aboveground activ- ity occurs during the winter season, when periods of rainfall provide more suitable environmental conditions. In addition, vernal pools which form during the winter breeding season ,can serve as breeding and egg laying territory. The project site's manmade impoundments may function in a similar manner. No, sala- manders were noted during site surveys. I I The giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) is a state and federally listed threatened species. The lacustrine habitat in the project area provides sites where this snake can forage for fish and amphibians. The manmade impoundments, as permanent features of the landscape, possess the greatest habitat potential for this species. The giant garter snake, however, was not seen during visits to each of the impoundments on the site. f The project site may possess suitable nesting and foraging habitat for the Swainson's hawk (Buten swainsoni) , a California threatened species and candidate for federal listing. The, blue oak woodlands and the oak savannah characteristic of some of the annual grassland habitat could be used by the Swainson's hawk for breeding and nesting. However, the blue oaks on the project site may lack the large stature preferred by this hawk for nest', sites. An average tree height of about 60 feet has been observed for x Swainson's hawk nest trees in the Central Valley (Jones and Stokes Associates, Inc. , 1990) , a height which few, if any' of the project site's blue oaks have attained. Theprojectsite annual grasslands offer suitable foraging habitat for the Swainson's hawk. No Swainson's hawks were, ob- served nesting or foraging on site. Although the NDDB and other sources do not report nest sites on the project site, several have been reported 5-10 miles away. Foraging hawks could include the project site in their foraging range, but the likelihood is F� limited. The burrowing owl (Achene cunicularia) is a California, Spe- cies of special concern. Open, level areas of annual grassland within the project site would be particularly attractive as nest sites for these somewhat diurnal owls. Roadside embankments, berms, and other elevated earthen structures may also provide nest sites for these owls to the extent that human activity in the proximity is sufficiently low. The burrowing owl is a year- round resident, often using ground squirrel burrows for nesting and living. The breeding season encompasses the March through June time frame. Surveys performed during this period andiat other times found no burrowing owls or their signs. 4.8.4 Noxious Weeds tr No noxious weeds have been found in surveys of the present and proposed permit area by representatives of the San Joaquin County Agriculture Commissioner or KRC Aggregate, Inc. I r- I KRC Aggregate, Inc. i -- 12 - April 1, 1994 '