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4 Environmental Analysis <br /> 4.4 Biological Resources <br /> incremental impacts of present and reasonably foreseeable probable future projects in the <br /> cumulative scenario are analyzed. For biological resources, the geographic scope of the <br /> cumulative analysis includes the regional population or extent of the species, community, or <br /> corridor affected, or the extent of the local watershed in the case of impacts to wetlands. The list <br /> of projects considered for cumulative analysis is provided in Chapter 2. <br /> As discussed above, there would be no impact with respect to sensitive natural communities, <br /> including riparian areas. An ephemeral pond in the southeast portion of the Project site was <br /> observed in spring 2023 after a historically high rainfall year. Although the pond is located outside <br /> of the Project footprint, it is located approximately 40 feet from the Project footprint. Only indirect <br /> effects, if any, are anticipated. Therefore, the incremental impacts of the Project, in combination <br /> with the incremental impacts of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future projects, <br /> is not expected to cause a significant cumulative effect on jurisdictional wetlands. <br /> Project impacts to big tarplant after the implementation of recommended mitigation measures <br /> would be less than significant. The area to be developed is anticipated to avoid all locations of <br /> this species and a protective buffer. If avoidance is not possible, the acres of habitat for this <br /> species that would be impacted by the proposed Project and the identified cumulative projects <br /> would be a small fraction of the total potential habitat in the Central Valley. Therefore, the Project <br /> would contribute a less than significant amount to a cumulative impact on this species and impacts <br /> to the species would not be cumulatively considerable. <br /> Project impacts to CTS, western spadefoot, and CRLF after the implementation of recommended <br /> mitigation measures would be less than significant. The cumulative projects may result in impacts <br /> to these species, primarily associated with the loss of upland estivation habitat. However, the <br /> acres of potential habitat for these species that would be impacted by the proposed Project and <br /> the identified cumulative projects would be a small fraction of the total potential habitat in the <br /> Central Valley. Therefore, the incremental impacts of the Project, in combination with the <br /> incremental impacts of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future projects, is not <br /> expected to cause a significant cumulative effect on special-status amphibians. <br /> Project impacts to special-status invertebrates (Crotch's bumble bee, longhorn fairy shrimp, and <br /> vernal pool fairy shrimp) after the implementation of recommended mitigation measures would be <br /> less than significant. The cumulative projects may result in impacts to these species, primarily <br /> associated with the loss of Crotch's bumble bee foraging and nesting habitat. However, the acres <br /> of potential habitat for these species that would be impacted by the Project and the identified <br /> cumulative projects would be a small fraction of the total potential habitat in the Central Valley. <br /> Therefore, the incremental impacts of the Project, in combination with the incremental impacts of <br /> other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future projects, is not expected to cause a <br /> significant cumulative effect on special-status invertebrates. <br /> Project impacts to special-status reptiles after the implementation of recommended mitigation <br /> measures would be less than significant. The cumulative projects may result in impacts to these <br /> species, primarily associated with the loss of grassland habitat. However, the acres of potential <br /> habitat for these species that would be impacted by the proposed Project and the identified <br /> cumulative projects would be a small fraction of the total potential habitat in the Central Valley. <br /> Therefore, the incremental impacts of the Project, in combination with the incremental impacts of <br /> other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future projects, is not expected to cause a <br /> significant cumulative effect on special-status reptiles. <br /> Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.4-51 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 <br /> Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023 <br />