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San Joaquin County Community Environmental Setting,Impacts,and Mitigation Measures _ Development Department Biological Resources having the potential to occur in the project area(Table 3.D-1). During this late- season field survey, all plants were identified to the level necessary to determine whether they qualified as special-status plants or were plant species with unusual or significant range extensions. Surveys coincided with the identification periods of most of the special-status _ plants identified in Table 3.D-1. Special-Status Wildlife Surveys. As a follow-up to the May 9,2003, field survey by Wetlands Research Associates,Inc.—conducted to assess habitat suitability for special-status species wildlife within the project areas Jones& Stokes wildlife biologist conducted a follow-up field survey of the project area on July 12,2005,to document existing habitat conditions and ensure that habitat — suitability for special-status species identified as potentially occurring in the project area had not changed since the 2003 field survey. The wildlife biologist looked for potential burrows for the federally endangered and state-listed — threatened San Joaquin kit fox within established almond orchards in the project area and within disturbed and grassland areas along the western boundary of the project area. Information on adjacent land uses was also documented to determine whether these areas provided suitable foraging habitat for San Joaquin kit fox. Identification of Waters of the United States, Including Wetlands Waters of the United States is the term used by the U. S.Army Corps of Engineers(Corps)for areas under federal jurisdiction under CWA Section 404. For the purpose of this analysis,waters of the United States are categorized as either wetlands or other waters of the United States. Wetlands are defined as areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support,and that under normal circumstances do support,a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions(33 CFR 328.3[b],40 CFR 230.3). _ To be considered under federal jurisdiction, a wetland must support positive indicators for hydrophytic vegetation,hydric soil,and wetland hydrology. Other _ waters of the United States are seasonal or perennial bodies of water, including lakes, stream channels,drainages,ponds,and other surface water features,that exhibit an ordinary high-water mark(OHWM)but lack positive indicators for one or two of the three wetland parameters(33 CFR 328.4). Physical Setting ' Biological Communities The majority of the study area is currently in agriculture. At the time of the July 12, 2005, field survey, the project site consisted primarily of established and newly planted almond orchards. Between the rows of almond trees, the ground is generally unvegetated and watered by drip irrigation. A field of safflower is DeSilva Gates Quarry Project — Draft Environmental Impact Report 3.D4 As osios.os