California Riparian Systems "d0e4659"

Los Vaqueros Reservoir

The primary effect of the proposed Los Vaqueros Reservoir will be on Kellogg Creek, Contra Costa County. Preliminary investigations by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) indicate that the Kellogg Creek area supports at least 6 species of amphibians and 12 species of reptiles. The reservoir, as proposed, would inundate 12 km. of tributaries. An additional 6.4 km. of Kellogg Creek would be affected below the dam due to changes in streamflow.

A species of special concern that occurs in Kellogg Creek is the red-legged frog (Rana aurora —fig. 2), which is well adapted for living in arid environments with intermittent or temporary aquatic habitat. However, it has

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Table 2.—Use classification of reptiles occurring in California riparian systems.
Type of use
Constant¹	Arid²	General³
Western pond turtle Clemmysmarmorata	Western skink Eumecesskiltonianus	Western fence lizard Sceloporusoccidentalis
Sonoran mud turtle Kinosternonsonoriense	Gilberts skink Eumecesgilberti	Sagebrush lizard Sceloporusgraciosus
Common garter snake Thamnophissirtalis	Panamint alligator lizard Gerrhonotuspanamintinus	Long-tailed brush lizard Urosaurusgraciosus
Western aquatic garter snake Thamnophiscouchi	Northern alligator lizard Gerrhonotuscoeruleus	Western whiptail lizard Cnemidophorustigris
Checkered garter snake Thamnophismarcianus	Ringneck snake Diadophispunctatus	Southern alligator lizard Gerrhonotusmulticarinatus
	Sharp-tailed snake Contiatenuis	California legless lizard Anniellapulchra
	Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophiselegans	Western blind snake Leptotyphlopshumilis
		Rubber boa Charinabottae
		Racer Coluberconstrictor
		Striped racer Masticophislateralis
		Gopher snake Pituophismelanoleucus
		Common kingsnake Lampropeltisgetulus
		California mountain kingsnake Lampropeltiszonata
		Northwestern garter snake Thamnophisordinoides
		Western black-headed snake Tantillaplaniceps
		Night snake Hypsiglenaplaniceps
		Western rattlesnake Crotalusviridis
¹ Species that occur primarily in the riparian zone throughout their lives. ² Species that depend on riparian systems in the arid parts of their range. ³ Species that utilize riparian systems as well as other systems throughout their range.

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little tolerance for habitat disturbances or competition from exotic species. Approximately 18 km. of red-legged frog habitat, virtually the entire Kellogg Creek population, could be adversely affected if Los Vaqueros Reservoir impoundment project is built.