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III. Environmental Setting, Impacts,and Mitigations F. Vegetation and Wildlife triangular properties)l,active agricultural field(alfalfa field-Brocchini property), and sparsely vegetated drainages(Little Johns Creek and an agricultural irrigation ditch). Several native oaks, however,occur along property boundaries and adjacent to on-site waterways. Locations of plant associations,including individual oaks or groups of oaks, are shown on Figure III.F.1. Non-Native Grassland/Weedy(ruderal)Vegetation This community covers the entirety of the CYA and triangular properties as well as peripheries of the Brocchini property,totalling approximately 133.4 acres in areal extent. Common components of this community on the CYA property, averaging approximately three feet in height,include wild oats (Avena spp.),ripgut brome(Bromus diandrus),wild mustard(Brassica campestris), Russian thistle(Salsola kali),sow thistle(Sonchus sp.),Italian thistle(Carduus pycnocephalus),cut-leaf geranium (Geranium dissectum),garden variety geranium (Pelargonium hortorum),fiddleneck(Amsinckia intermedia), and milk thistle(Silybum marianum). Species occurring along the peripheries of the Brocchini property include common chickweed(Stellaria media),scarlet pimpernel (Anagalis arvensis),burclover(Medicago polymorpha), filaree (Erodium cicutarium and E. moschatum), mallow (Malva nicaeensis),and shepard's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), with fewer of the taller species dominating the CYA property present. With the exception of trees occurring along field peripheries,discussed below,trees are absent from the disturbed grassland portions of the site. Active Agricultural Field The Brocchini property is being used exclusively for the production of alfalfa(Alfalfa sp.). This crop covers approximately 80.5 acres. The only other vegetation present on the Brocchini property occurs along the highly disturbed peripheries, as discussed above. Drainages Two drainages occur on or immediately adjacent to the study area: the North Branch of the South Fork of Little Johns Creek and an agricultural irrigation ditch(labelled A on Figure III.F.l)tributary to this modified natural watercourse. Within the study area,drainages comprise a total of approximately 4.6 acres between ordinary high water marks. 1 Evenly spaced furrows,indicative of past cultivation,are present across the entire CYA property. Both the CYA and triangular properties currently support mature,non-native/weedy vegetation. III.F.4