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4 Environmental Analysis 4.4 Biological Resources State Scientific Common Federal Other Name Name Status Status Summary Medium Potential to Occur.This species has been previously recorded several times approximately 4 to 5 miles to the west and also to the south of the Project site Western from 1998 to 2020(CDFW 2022).The ephemeral pond Spea hammondii spadefoot None SSC within the southeast of the Project site could provide breeding habitat for the species if water is present,and the Project site could be utilized as upland habitat due to the presence of crevices and burrows to provide shelter. Therefore,potential to occur on-site is medium. Medium Potential to Occur.This species has been previously documented approximately 1 mile away from the Arizona elegans California glossy None SSC Project site in 1984 and 3 miles away in 2010(CDFW occidentalis snake 2022).This species inhabits grassland habitat that is present on the Project site.Therefore,potential to occur on- site is medium. Medium Potential to Occur.San Joaquin coachwhip has been recorded 0.5 mile from the Project site in 1996 and 5 Masticophis San Joaquin None SSC miles away in 2004(CDFW 2022).Abundant prey and flagellum ruddocki coachwhip refuge in the form of small mammal burrows is available on the Project site.Therefore,the potential for this species to occur is medium. High Potential to Occur.This species has been previously documented in the southwest corner of the Project site in June 2007,and 1 mile away in 2012 and 2014(CDFW Athene Burrowing owl 2022).Within a 5-mile radius,there are 44 previous cunicularia (BUOW) BCC SSC occurrences of this species(CDFW 2022).Although no BUOW sign was found on the Project site at the time of survey,several burrow networks which could support BUOW were found on-site.Therefore,potential to occur is high. Observed.This species was observed flying overhead over the Project site during the survey.Due to the number of Buteo regalis Ferruginous BCC WL California ground squirrels present on the Project site,this hawk species may use this area to hunt prey.The ferruginous hawk does not nest in the San Joaquin Valley,and therefore,will not nest in the vicinity of the Project site. Low Potential To Nest in Project site and Medium Potential To Nest in 0.5-mile Buffer.This species has been previously documented approximately 4 miles from the Project site in 1994,and a nesting pair was documented 4.5 miles to the east in 2016(CDFW 2022).Transmission towers surround the Project site and are suitable sites for Buteo swainsoni Swainson's hawk BCC Threatened nesting.In addition,trees suitable for nesting are found north of the Project site,on the borders of residential areas. This species could use the Project site as foraging habitat, but there is a low potential for this species to nest since the only trees occur in residential areas.Therefore,there is medium potential for this species to nest in the 0.5-mile buffer and low potential for this species to nest in the Project site. Medium Potential to Occur.This species has been previously documented along the California Aqueduct 2 Circus hudsonius Northern harrier None SSC miles northeast from the Project site(CDFW 2022).This species could use the Project site as foraging habitat and use the adjacent 150-meter buffer as nesting habitat. Therefore,potential for this species to occur is medium. Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.4-7 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023