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4 Environmental Analysis 4.4 Biological Resources for breeding purposes. Therefore, the Project site is potential upland and breeding habitat and may support estivating and breeding amphibians. One concrete cattle trough was found on-site, but is unlikely to be used as CTS breeding habitat because there was no bank or slope for CTS to access the water in the trough, and CTS cannot climb over structures greater than 15 inches (Langton 2021). An assessment was also conducted within 1.24 miles of the Project site to analyze potential barriers to CTS migration between potential breeding ponds/pools and the Project site (Figure 4.4-4). The nearest known breeding site is 2 miles to the southwest of the Project site (CDFW 2022). Within 1.24 miles, five potential breeding pools exist (Pool Numbers 1 through 5 in Figure 4.4-4); two pools were visited and determined to be potential CTS breeding pools (Pool Numbers 1 and 5) and three potential breeding habitats (Pool Numbers 2 through 4) could not be observed because they occur on private property. The five other pools (Pool Numbers 6 through 10) shown in Figure 4.4-4 were visited in the field and determined to not be potential breeding habitat for CTS (Tetra Tech 2022a; USFWS 2003). Two types of potential CTS barriers were identified within 1.24 miles of the Project site: high-density development and steep slopes over 14 degrees without passages. Migration from Pool Number 1 is affected by one partial barrier (PG&E Tesla Substation), dispersal from Pool 2 is affected by one partial barrier (Union Pacific Railroad), and Pools 3 and 4 have no barriers to CTS migration as shown in Figure 4.4-4. Based on this assessment, CTS could migrate through the Project site. California Red-legged Frog CRLF is a federally threatened species and a CDFW Species of Special Concern. Ideal CRLF breeding habitat has emergent vegetation and surface water at a 2-foot depth or deeper; water must last a minimum of 4 to 6 months for breeding and metamorphosis. This species is also known to use stock ponds and cattle troughs for breeding (Hemingway 2005). Ideal upland habitats are creeks, seeps, or freshwater spring corridors with riparian vegetation, but this species can also occupy other types of upland habitats, including annual grassland. CRLF upland habitat is typically located within 1 mile of a breeding site. The Project site provides potential CRLF estivation habitat primarily in the form of California ground squirrel burrows. CRLF may roam away from aquatic sites as much as 1 mile on rainy nights (USFWS 2005). Although the nearest known CRLF breeding pond is 1.5 miles northwest of the Project site from 2004 (CDFW 2022), two potential breeding ponds were found within 1 mile during the surveys (Pool Numbers 1 and 6 in Figure 4.4-4). In addition, there are at least seven cattle ponds approximately 1.5 miles to the west and southwest of the Project site, as well as four ephemeral creeks within 0.5 to 1 mile that could facilitate safe dispersal for CRLF from these potential breeding sites to the Project site. The ephemeral pond in the southeast of the Project site may attract CRLF dispersing across the area to be developed but is not breeding habitat due to the lack of emergent vegetation. Overall, the Project site may provide upland dispersal habitat that could be used by CRLF, but does not provide breeding habitat given the lack of suitable breeding habitat on-site. Western Spadefoot Western spadefoot is a CDFW Species of Special Concern. The spadefoot toad is primarily found in open grasslands and breeds in seasonal shallow waters such as ephemeral ponds, vernal pools, or intermittent streams. They spend most of their time in underground burrows that they Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.4-10 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023