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Soil Investigations for Data Collection in the Delta Initial Study/Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration 76 animal burrows, though nests have also been reported from above-ground structures that provide suitable cavities. Colonies are established by mated queens who produce female workers to forage for pollen and nectar, defend the colony, and feed developing larvae, with individual colonies remaining active for only one season (Koch et al. 2012). Crotch bumble bee has moderate potential to occur within the Study Area based on the presence of suitable habitat. Implementation of Mitigation Measure MM BIO-1, which would avoid and minimize adverse impacts to suitable habitat, would reduce potential impacts to Crotch bumble bee to: Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated. Western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis) Western bumblebee has a NatureServe ranking of G4S1 and is included on CDFW’s Special Animals List but is not listed under FESA or CESA. This species is a generalist, colonial nesting bee. The known range of this species extends throughout California, though populations from Central California to the northern border have declined sharply since the late 1990’s, particularly from lower elevation sites. The habitat for this species varies widely and includes open grassy areas, urban parks and gardens, chaparral and scrub lands, and mountain meadows. Like most other species of bumblebees, western bumblebees typically nest in underground cavities such as animal burrows, though nests have also been reported from above-ground structures that provide suitable cavities. Colonies are established by mated queens who produce female workers to forage for pollen and nectar, defend the colony, and feed developing larvae. Within California, the flight period for western bumblebee is from early February to late November, with individual colonies remaining active for only one season (Hatfield et al. 2015). Western bumble bee has high potential to occur within the Study Area based on the presence of suitable habitat. Implementation of Mitigation Measure MM BIO- 1 would avoid and minimize adverse impacts to suitable habitat and would reduce potential impacts to western bumble bee to: Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated. Conservancy fairy shrimp (Branchinecta conservatio) Conservancy fairy shrimp is listed as Endangered under FESA but not listed under CESA, and has a NatureServe ranking of G2S2. This species is a 1.3 to 2.5 cm short-lived aquatic crustacean found in ephemeral freshwater habitats. It is endemic to California, and its known range is limited to the Central Valley, with the exception of one occurrence in Ventura County. Conservancy fairy shrimp are found in vernal pools; generally large, turbid playa pools that may be inundated well into the summer (USFWS 2007a). Conservancy fairy shrimp hatch from cysts that remain in the soil until the first winter rains and complete their lifecycle by early summer when warm water temperatures and drying