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4 Environmental Analysis 4.4 Biological Resources 4.4.1.4 Hydrology The Project site is located in the Lower Old River watershed area. The nearest natural aquatic feature is Patterson Run, which is approximately 0.5 to 1 mile from the Project site. Two potential wetland areas were identified and surveyed on the Project site in 2022 (Tetra Tech 2022a). Neither area was determined to be under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), or CDFW. One area consisted of an erosional feature with no ponded or flowing water, no evidence of standing water, and no defined bed, banks, or channel (Figure 4.4-1). This feature is not a WOTUS because it is an ephemeral feature that is hydrologically isolated from other WOTUS. It is also not jurisdictional to the RWQCB or CDFW. In 2022, the second area was determined to be a pile of cut logs and leaf litter with no associated depression or channel, no standing water present, and no hydrophytic vegetation. This area did not have any wetland characteristics. However, after historically high rainfall in the 2022-2023 winter, an ephemeral pond with standing water was observed in this same location in the southeastern portion of the Project site in spring 2023 (Figure 4.4-1). The U.S. Geological Survey National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) identified one potential body of water located in the southeast portion of the Project site, and it was verified in the field that this ephemeral pond is the feature from the dataset. Historic aerial imagery indicates that this feature rarely ponds with water and has not ponded in recent years. This pond is not a USACE wetlands due to the lack of hydrophytic vegetation. This feature is not a WOTUS because it is hydrologically isolated. However, it is likely jurisdictional to the RWQCB and CDFW. 4.4.1.5 Wildlife Movement A wildlife corridor is a connection of habitat, generally native vegetation, which joins two or more larger areas of similar habitat that are otherwise separated by natural barriers, changes in vegetation composition, or land permanently altered for human activities, such as farms; and infrastructure, such as roads, railroads, residential development, or fencing. When native vegetation is cleared, fragmented patches of open space or isolated "islands" of wildlife habitat are created. Fragmentation and habitat loss are the two main contributors to continuing biodiversity decline. The main goal of corridors is to facilitate movement of individuals through dispersal, seasonal migration, and movement for foraging, breeding, cover, etc. Corridors allow for physical and genetic exchange between isolated wildlife populations and are critical for the maintenance of ecological processes, including allowing for the movement of animals and the continuation of viable populations and higher species diversity. The Project site lies within an area designated as Rank 4 in CDFW's Terrestrial Connectivity Areas of Conservation Emphasis. This designation indicates that habitat connectivity linkages occur in the area. Habitat connectivity linkages represent the best connections between core natural areas to maintain habitat connectivity. However, these linkages are not considered irreplaceable and essential corridors (i.e., Rank 5). The Project site is also within the California Bay Area Linkage Network (Penrod et al. 2013), which identifies areas that are either high-quality habitat or highly permeable to wildlife movement and connect larger wildlands with smaller wildlands. In addition, the Project site is within a San Joaquin Valley Wildlife Corridor (Huber 2006). San Joaquin Valley Wildlife Corridors connect areas of conservation opportunity to healthy, native habitats. However, these designated areas also extend far beyond the boundaries of the Project site and have not incorporated specific on-site conditions into the analysis. Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.4-19 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023