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4 Environmental Analysis <br /> 4.4 Biological Resources <br /> 4.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES <br /> This section describes the biological resources' of the proposed Griffith Energy Storage Project <br /> (Project) site and surrounding area and evaluates habitat conditions to determine the potential for <br /> occurrence of common and special-status specieS2 and their habitats.3 The Project site refers to <br /> the entire property on which the area to be developed is located (Figure 4.4-1). Approximately 32 <br /> acres of the 106-acre Project site would be used for the Project, of which approximately 32 acres <br /> would be disturbed. Most of the Project site is located in San Joaquin County with a small portion <br /> in Alameda County (Figure 4.4-1). <br /> Biologists from Tetra Tech conducted literature reviews and field surveys of the biological <br /> resources potentially associated with the area to be developed. The following types of general <br /> and focused biological surveys were conducted in 2022: <br /> oo Vegetation community mapping; <br /> oo Rare plant surveys; <br /> oo Inventory of all plants and wildlife observed on-site; <br /> oo California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense; CTS) upland and aquatic habitat <br /> and migration barrier assessment within a 1.24-mile buffer around the Project Property; <br /> oo Identification of potential nesting habitat for Swainson's hawk within a 0.5-mile buffer <br /> around the area to be developed; <br /> oo Habitat assessment for San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica; SJKF), other special- <br /> status species, and nesting birds; and <br /> oo Jurisdictional delineation of wetlands and waters of the United States (WOTUS), Waters <br /> of the State, and rivers, streams, or lakes regulated by the California Department of Fish <br /> and Wildlife (CDFW). <br /> A site visit was also performed on June 7, 2023 to evaluate a new ephemeral pond in the <br /> southeast portion of the Project Property that was observed after a historically high rainfall year. <br /> The analysis is based on the Project-specific, biological resources technical reports that are listed <br /> below. Each technical report has been prepared on the Applicant's behalf and is provided in <br /> Appendix E, Biological Resources. <br /> 1. Biological Resources Evaluation Report (Tetra Tech 2022a); and <br /> 2. Rare Plant Survey Report (Tetra Tech 2022b). <br /> ' For the purposes of this analysis, "biological resources" refers to the plants, wildlife, and habitats that occur, or have <br /> the potential to occur,within the Project Property and surrounding area. <br /> 2 For the purposes of this analysis, "special-status species" refers to any species that has been afforded special <br /> protection by federal, state, or local resource agencies (e.g., United States Fish and Wildlife Service, California <br /> Department of Fish and Wildlife)or resource conservation organizations (e.g., California Native Plant Society). The <br /> term "special-status species" excludes those avian species solely identified under Section 10 of the Migratory Bird <br /> Treaty Act(MBTA)for federal protection. Nonetheless, MBTA Section 10 protected species are afforded avoidance <br /> and minimization measures per state and federal requirements. <br /> 3 A"habitat" is defined as the place or type of locale where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows. <br /> Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.4-1 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 <br /> Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023 <br />