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4 Environmental Analysis 4.4 Biological Resources California Tiger Salamander The Project site is potential upland habitat for CTS and contains an ephemeral pond that may provide CTS breeding habitat. Numerous potential underground refugia (e.g., ground squirrel burrows) were found on the Project site that may support estivating CTS, four of which occur on the area to be developed (Figure 4.4-3). CTS could also migrate between the area to be developed and the potential breeding ponds that are within a 1.24-mile radius from the Project site (Pool Numbers 1 through 3 and Pool Number 5 in Figure 4.4-4); Pool Number 4 is within 1.24 miles from the Project site boundary but it is over 1.4 miles from the area to be developed. There is a partial barrier to CTS migration between Pool Number 1 and the area to be developed (PG&E Tesla Substation) and a partial barrier between Pool Number 2 and the site (Union Pacific Railroad) that would limit CTS movement, but the species could still access the site through adjacent areas or the underpass below the railroad tracks. CTS are known to migrate up to 1.24 miles. Project construction activities, including ground disturbance, may impact this species if they are present on the site during construction, either estivating in burrows underground that are destroyed during daytime grading activities or dispersing through upland habitats during construction activities. These impacts could include direct mortality and loss of upland estivation habitat. Since CTS emergence and dispersal usually happens on rainy nights (USFWS 2003), and construction would be limited or stopped under those conditions, the potential for direct morality is reduced. With implementation of Mitigation Measures 13I0-1 and 113I0-2, including mitigating for on-site presence of CTS and their habitat in accordance with the SJMSCP and use of BMPs for biological resources, construction impacts would be reduced to a less than significant level and the Project would have no substantial adverse effects on CTS. Vehicle travel on roads during Project operations could result in mortality of dispersing CTS if present. Similarly, the chain-linked perimeter fence would not impede potential CTS movement into the area to be developed. However, infrastructure areas where the Project operations and maintenance activities would occur are unlikely to support CTS. All impacts to CTS and their habitat would be mitigated with the implementation of Mitigation Measure 113I0-1 and 113I0-2. Therefore, Project O&M would have no substantial adverse effects on this species, and the impact would be less than significant with mitigation incorporated. California Red-legged Frog The Project site is potential upland habitat for CRLF but does not provide CRLF breeding habitat since the ephemeral pond in the southeast portion of the Project property lacks emergent vegetation and would be avoided during construction. However, the ephemeral pond may attract CRLF to disperse through the upland habitats on site. The Project site provides potential CRLF estivation habitat (e.g., California ground squirrel burrows). CRLF may disperse through the area to be developed from off-site potential breeding sites (Pool Numbers 1 and 6 in Figure 4.4-4), which are about 1 mile from the area to be developed. Project construction activities, including ground disturbance, may impact this species if they are present on the site during construction. These impacts could include direct mortality and loss of upland estivation habitat. With implementation of Mitigation Measures 113I0-1 and 113I0-2, including preconstruction surveys in accordance with the SJMSCP and use of BMPs for biological resources, construction impacts would be reduced to a less than significant level and the Project would have no substantial adverse effects on CRLF. Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.4-31 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023