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San Joaquin County Community Environmental Setting,Impacts,and Mitigation Measures Development Department Biological Resources Species of the San Joaquin Valley, California(USFWS 1998),the SJMSCP emphasizes maintenance of the north—south trending movement corridor for San Joaquin kit fox through the southwest portion of San Joaquin County. The 2003 habitat assessment did not identify any ground squirrels or suitable kit fox burrow habitat within orchards in the project area(Wetlands Research Associates,Inc.2003). At the time of the May 2003 field survey,orchards in the — project area were flood irrigated and Wetlands Research Associates,Inc., concluded that flooded conditions and frequent human activity would preclude use of burrows during the kit fox breeding season. — During a follow-up July 12, 2005,field survey conducted by Jones& Stokes, orchards in the project area appeared to be watered by drip irrigation. Several — rodent burrows (1-3 inches in diameter)were observed around the base of almond trees along the western perimeter of the project area. Rodent burrows were also observed in ruderal/disturbed areas(shown in Figure 3.D-1)and along — the edges of fields and orchards in the project area, suggesting that the study area could provide foraging opportunities for San Joaquin kit fox. Additionally,a grassland berm is present along the southwest boundary of the project area between the almond orchards and the Delta-Mendota Canal,which contains numerous burrows that could provide suitable derming habitat for San Joaquin kit fox(Figure 3.D-2a). In a Biological Opinion issued by USFWS (reference No. _ 1-1-05-F-0040), the USFWS indicated that kit foxes can inhabit the margins of fallow lands near irrigated row crops, orchards, and vineyards and may forage occasionally in these agricultural areas(USFWS 2005). A focused den search of the project area and adjacent berm was not conducted during the July 12,2005, field survey. Because San Joaquin kit fox have been previously documented in the project vicinity (10-mile radius around the study — area),the project area occurs within a known kit fox movement corridor,and because marginal foraging and denning habitat(orchard, agricultural field, and ruderal areas)is present in the project area,there is a moderate potential for San — Joaquin kit fox to forage and possibly den in the project area. Regulatory Setting This section describes the federal, state, and local plans,policies, and laws — relevant to biological resources in the project area. Federal Regulations Endangered Species Act — The federal ESA protects fish and wildlife species, and their habitats, identified by USFWS as threatened or endangered. Endangered refers to species, subspecies, or distinct population segments that are in danger of extinction _ through all or a significant portion of their range; threatened refers to species, DeSilva Gates Quarry Project — Draft Environmental Impact Report 3.D-8 J&s 05105.05