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San Joaquin County Community Environmental Setting,Impacts,and Mitigation Measures
<br /> Development Department Biological Resources
<br /> growing in the northwestern comer of the study area. Ruderal(disturbed)areas
<br /> are also present on the project site and occur at the northeastern corner,along the
<br /> western boundary, and within a gas pipeline right-of-way that traverses the study
<br /> area. The ruderal areas of the project site appear to be the result of disking or
<br /> mowing and are sparsely vegetated with common weeds such as bindweed,
<br /> ripgut brome,prickly sow-thistle, and meadow barley.
<br /> Representative photographs of the existing conditions observed in the project
<br /> area are presented in Figures 3.D-2a and 3.D-2b. The locations of biological
<br /> communities, as well as the location and orientation of the photographs, are
<br /> shown in Figure 3.D-1 and described below.
<br /> .- The project site is surrounded by agricultural lands,including fields of alfalfa,
<br /> wheat,and low-growing row crops.
<br /> No drainages,creeks,or waterways are present in the project area. The Delta-
<br /> Mendota Canal is located along the western boundary of the project site. The
<br /> canal is elevated above the project site and is approximately 40 feet from the
<br /> project site boundary.
<br /> Special-Status Species
<br /> Special-Status Plants
<br /> ` As part of the prefield investigation,the botanist identified 39 special-status
<br /> species with the potential to occur in the project region based on a review of
<br /> existing information from CNDDB,USFWS, and the SJMSCP.
<br /> Of the 39 special-status species with the potential to occur in the project area, 13
<br /> were reported as not present in the 2003 habitat assessment. The remaining 26
<br /> species were determined to be not present in the July 2005 field survey because
<br /> �- suitable habitat does not exist onsite: Sharsmith's onion, Suisun Marsh aster,
<br /> alkali milk-vetch,heartscale,Hoover's calycadenia,Chaparral barebell,
<br /> Sharsmith's harebell,bristly sedge,succulent owl's clover, Lemmon's
<br /> jewelflower,Mt. Hamilton thistle, Hoover's cryptantha,recurved larkspur,Talus
<br /> fritillary, Bogg's Lake hedge-hyssop,rose-mallow, Red Bluff dwarf rush, Delta
<br /> tule pea, legenere, Delta mudwort,Mt. Hamilton lomatium,red-flowered lotus,
<br /> showy madia, Salinas valley(=hooked)popcom-flower,blue skullcap, and
<br /> Greene's tuctoria(Table 3.D-1). These species would have been identifiable
<br /> during the July 2005 field survey but none were observed.
<br /> A database search(CNDDB 2005)was conducted to identify special-status
<br /> species plants that have been documented within a 10-mile radius of the project
<br /> region. The results indicated that no special-status species have been reported in
<br /> or adjacent to the study area. Two special-status species, the Delta button-celery
<br /> and the showy madia, have been documented within the 10-mile radius but are
<br /> located approximately 4.5 miles and 6.8 miles from the project area,respectively.
<br /> Both of these species have specific microhabitat requirements that are not present
<br /> in the project area(e.g., seasonal wetland habitats, open grassland slopes).
<br /> DeSilva Gates Quarry Project
<br /> Draft Environmental Impact Report 3.D-5
<br /> AS 05705.05
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