ARCHIVED REPORTS LEC APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION

Home Browse Search

5.2 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES reported occurrence of the northwestern pond turtle is approximately 1.7 miles to the southwest in Telephone Cut along the north side of Bishop Tract (Figure 5.2-2). The western pond turtle has also been reported approximately 1.3 miles to the northwest of the LEC project site in Coldani Marsh (Figure 5.2-2).There is no suitable aquatic habitat for this species in the project area;however;the large irrigation ditch immediately south of the project site provides suitable habitat for this species and they could occur incidentally in the adjacent upland areas of the project site. The Giant Garter Snake is listed as a State and Federal Threatened species. Suitable habitat for the giant garter snake includes freshwater marshes, sloughs,ponds,and other aquatic habitats such as irrigation canals, drainages,and reservoirs and rice fields. General habitat features consist of permanent freshwater with vegetative cover, dense prey populations, and higher elevation uplands not subject to flooding for denning. The giant garter snake relies on prey such as tadpoles,frogs, small fish,and other small vertebrates including mice. The giant garter snake has been reported within 2 miles to the northwest of the LEC project site,including the Coldani Marsh (Figure 5.2-2). No suitable aquatic habitat is present in the project area,but the large irrigation ditch immediately south of the LEC project site provides suitable habitat for this species and the giant garter snake could occur incidentally in the adjacent uplands within the project site and associated laydown areas. The Western burrowing owl is a California Species of Special Concern. Optimum burrowing owl habitat consists of open grassland or prairie with short vegetation and an abundance of mammal burrows. Burrowing owls prey on small mammals,insects,crayfish, and can feed on carrion. Short vegetation may increase prey availability,enhance predator detection by the owls, and attract burrowing mammals that provide nest sites for burrowing owls. The species is non-migratory over portions of Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties. The nearest reported occurrence is approximately 3.5 miles south of the project along a levee road south of Bear Creek and north of Mosher Slough (Figure 5.2-2).While no burrowing owls were observed during the wildlife surveys,open grassland areas and edges of agricultural fields provide suitable habitat for this species. The Swainsori s hawk is listed as a State Threatened Species.Suitable nesting habitat for the Swainsori s hawk consists of scattered trees near or along riparian corridors adjacent to potential foraging habitat dominated by grasslands,meadows, or agricultural lands. Nesting begins in the summer with approximately 80 percent of breeding pairs observed in the southern Sacramento and northern San Joaquin Valleys. Swainsori s hawks are mainly insectivorous predators selecting grasshoppers,crickets,and other insects found in open grasslands or agricultural fields. During the nesting period,breeding pairs bring small vertebrate prey to their nestlings including young ground squirrels,young cottontails, pocket gophers, and mice. The species is migratory,wintering in South America and nesting in northwestern Canada,western U.S., and Mexico,with a round trip that can exceed 14,000 miles. Swainson s hawk typically returns to California between late February and early April. Numerous Swainson s hawk nests have been reported in the agricultural areas west of the project area (Figure 5.2-2). While no nesting Swainson s hawks were observed, several were observed flying in the area during the wildlife surveys,and suitable nesting and foraging habitat is present in the immediate vicinity of the LEC project site and within several of the proposed staging and laydown areas. SAC/371322/082330001(LEC_5.2_BIOLOGICAL_RESOURCES.DOC) 5.2-15