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5.7 Biological Resources

streams, but females may travel up to approximately 300 feet in search of suitable nesting
sites and have been known to nest in open grasslands on south-facing slopes (Morey 2000;
Lovich n.d.). Other long-distance movements (e.g., overwintering) may be in response to
drying bodies of water or other local factors (Morey 2000). In cold regions where
hibernation is more common, it usually occurs in mud beneath water, though this has been
documented in upland areas as well. The life history of western pond turtles living in
perennial water bodies, such as at Quail Lake, may be almost exclusively aquatic, only leaving
the water to nest (Zargoza et al. 2015).

In addition to losses of habitat, this species is also threatened by grazing, non-native species,
and disease (Jennings and Hayes 1994). There are reported occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the Project site in the Lebec and Frazier Mountain USGS topographic quadrangles
(CDFW 2015a); however, specific location information is suppressed by the CDFW to protect
this species from collectors. This species has been observed adjacent to the Project site at
Quail Lake. The Project site has limited availability of similar suitable habitat (Impact
Sciences 2004b). General surveys conducted during 2006 and 2008 found habitat
insufficient to support pond turtle except for the ranch pond located near the north-central
edge of the Project site (also where the tricolored blackbird colony was observed). Although
no live trapping for the pond turtle was conducted during the 2006 and 2008 surveys, this
species is not expected to occur due to poor water quality. Other wetland areas on the site
were inadequate for turtle occupation. Upland areas just north (within 300 feet) of Quail
Lake may contain potentially suitable nesting habitat, partially overlapping the Project site.
This species was not detected during surveys.

Blunt-Nosed Leopard Lizard

The blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila) is a federally listed Endangered, State-listed
Endangered, and a California Fully Protected species. No Critical Habitat has been designated
for this species. Endemic to California, this species inhabits the San Joaquin Valley and
nearby valleys and foothills, from extreme northwest Santa Barbara County and western
Kern County north to southern Merced County. Elevation requirements extend from 100 to
2,400 feet above msl. It is no longer present throughout most of its former range as the
habitat has been significantly altered by farming, urban development, overgrazing, oil wells,
mining, reservoirs, and off-road vehicle use. At one time, it hybridized with long-nosed
leopard lizard (Gambelia wislizenii) in the upper Cuyama drainage in Ventura County (near
Santa Barbara County), but much of the habitat in this region has now been degraded. This
species uses mammal dens and burrows for cover and shelter. The number of available
burrows will determine the size of this lizard’s population in an area (Stebbins 2003). Blunt-
nosed leopard lizard inhabits relatively open wash habitat, floodplain, and grasslands
(Warrick et al. 1998) with sparse open vegetation comprised of bunch grass, alkali bush,
sagebrush, creosote bush, or other scattered low plants (Germano et al. 2001). It avoids
dense grass and brush, which interfere with running (Stebbins 2003). The blunt- nosed
leopard lizard has a current range that stops north of the Tehachapi Range. It has not been
observed and is not expected to occur on the site.

R:\Projects\PAS\CEN\000306\Draft EIR\5.7 Bio_051117.docx 5.7-111 Centennial Project
Draft EIR