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4 Environmental Analysis <br /> 4.4 Biological Resources <br /> State <br /> Scientific Common Federal Other <br /> Name Name Status Status Summary <br /> Medium Potential to Occur.The nearest known breeding <br /> site for CTS is 2 miles southwest from the Project site,and <br /> there are additional known occurrences 3 miles to the north <br /> and east from 2015 and 2016(CDFW 2022).Ground <br /> squirrel burrows in low-sloping areas are present on the <br /> Project site and could provide upland refuges for CTS.Also, <br /> the soils on-site are moist enough to support burrowing <br /> amphibians.Within the 1.24-mile radius assessed for <br /> potential breeding ponds/pools,five potential breeding pools <br /> exist(Pool Numbers 1 through 5 in Figure 4.4-4).Two pools <br /> were visited and determined to be a potential CTS breeding <br /> pool(Pools Number 1 and 5)and three potential breeding <br /> California tiger habitats could not be observed because they occur on <br /> Ambystoma salamander Threatened Threatened private property(Pool Numbers 2 through 4).Five other <br /> californiense (CTS) pools were visited and determined to not be breeding <br /> habitat for CTS.Barriers to CTS migration were found within <br /> the 1.24-mile radius,including high-density development <br /> and steep slopes greater than 14 degrees without <br /> passages.Migration from Pool Number 1 is affected by one <br /> partial barrier(PG&E Tesla Substation),dispersal from Pool <br /> 2 is affected by one partial barrier(Union Pacific Railroad), <br /> and Pools 3 and 4 have no barriers to CTS migration. <br /> Therefore,the potential for this species to utilize the Project <br /> site as upland dispersal habitat is medium.Likewise,CTS <br /> has the potential to use the ephemeral pond in the <br /> southeast portion of the Project site as breeding habitat; <br /> however,this feature is likely only present during high <br /> rainfall years. <br /> Medium Potential to Occur.This species has been <br /> previously recorded several times within 0.5 to 2 miles from <br /> the Project site from 2001 to 2004,and most recently in <br /> 2016 about 3 miles to the north(CDFW 2022).Critical <br /> habitat is located approximately 0.25 miles to the south.The <br /> Project site could be utilized as upland habitat but does not <br /> provide breeding habitat.The ephemeral pond in the <br /> southeast portion of the Project site lacks vegetation <br /> required for breeding habitat.On rainy nights,CRLF may <br /> California red- roam away from aquatic sites as much as 1 mile(USFWS <br /> Rana draytonii legged frog Threatened SSC 2005).The nearest known CRLF breeding pond is 1.5 miles <br /> (CRLF) northwest of the Project site from 2004(CDFW 2022),and <br /> there are two pools within a 1-mile radius from the Project <br /> site which could serve as potential breeding habitat(Pool <br /> Numbers 1 and 6 in Figure 4.4-4).In addition,there are <br /> ephemeral creeks within 0.5 to 1 mile of the Project site that <br /> could facilitate dispersal.Potential for this species to utilize <br /> the Project site as upland dispersal habitat is medium. <br /> CRLF would not use the Project site as breeding habitat <br /> given the lack of emergent vegetation required for breeding <br /> habitat in the ephemeral pond in the southeast portion of the <br /> Project site. <br /> Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.4-6 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 <br /> Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023 <br />