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<br />Open hillsides and level areas provide habitat' for the Alameda whipsnake (striped racer), a State and
<br />federal-listed threatened species. The US Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service has
<br />proposed an area west of Foothill Road as "critical habitat," for the Alameda whipsnake. For proposed
<br />critical habitat, see Figure VII-l.) If this land were ultimately designated as critical habitat, it would
<br />limit development that might harm the snake's habitat.
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<br />Department of Fish and Game Species of Special Concern and federal-listed animal species that live in
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<br />the Planrting Area include the California Tiger Salamander, red-legged frog, foothill yellow-legged frog,
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<br />and western pond turde. The California tiger salamander is a winter breeder, migrating to the breeding
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<br />site after rains. The salamanders utilize temporary ponds or fish-free permanent ponds. The red-
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<br />legged frog lives in arroyos and creeks in the planrting Area and attains lengths in excess of 5 inches.
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<br />Other amphibians in the Planrting Area include California slender salamanders, arboreal salamanders,
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<br />California newts, bullfrogs, western toads, Pacific chorus frogs, and Pacific treefrogs.
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<br />The Callippe silverspot butterfly has a wingspan of approximately 4.5 centimeters and is mainly
<br />orange, tan, and brown. Historically this butterfly inhabited grasslands ranging over much of the
<br />northern San Francisco Bay region. The Callippe Preserve Open Space includes a 30-acre habitat for
<br />this endangered butterfly.
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<br />Plant Life
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<br />Vegetation serves a number of important functions in the environment, including food for human and
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<br />other animal life, erosion and climate control, surface water runoff reduction, soil enrichment, air
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<br />quality improvement, wildlife shelter, and aesthetics. Figure Vll-l shows generalized land covers and
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<br />Table VIl-2 indicates the potential rare, threatened, or endangered plants found in the Planrting Area.
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<br />Due to human activities and domesticated animals, little native vegetation remains within urbanized
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<br />portions of the Planrting Area. However, a mixture of native ttees, shrubs, and herbaceous species
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<br />occurs along ridges to the west and in the Southeast Hills. The eastern slopes of the Pleasanton and
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<br />Main Ridges contain the greatest concentration of native plant life in the Planrting Area.
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<br />Grassland. Grasslands are the dominant vegetative commurtity found in hilly areas. Due to livestock
<br />
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<br />grazing, non-native annual species - barnyard grass, bromes, goat grass, rut grass, Italian rye, wild rye,
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<br />wild oats, ripgut grass, barley, soft chess, fescue, oatgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass - have mosdy
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<br />replaced native grasses. Native grasses still growing in the Planrting Area are perennial native
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<br />bunchgrasses, including purple needIegrass and nodding needIegrass. Common non-native herbaceous
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<br />plants in grassland habitats include bur clover, fennel, filaree, a variety of thisdes, prickly lettuce,
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<br />mustards, and white clover. After winter rains, the blossoms of indigenous plants - the California
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<br />buttercup, California poppy, lupine, common chickweed, miner's lettuce, clovers, wild violet, and
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<br />fuchsia - dot the grasslands. Cattle graze on many grasslands in the Planrting Area.
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<br />.. Habitat provides the natural environment and conditions where a plant or animal normally lives.
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<br />Con os Element, CC 082906, dean
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<br />VIlA
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<br />City Council 8/29/2006
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