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Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Page IV.A-27 Forward Inc. Landfill 2015 Expansion Project • when they migrate to the area in the fall. The bird control program was shown to be effective at ` preventing gulls from feeding at, or otherwise using, the Forward Landfill. (Davis, 2017). A biologist from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection • Service, Wildlife Services visited the project site to evaluate aviation-related wildlife hazards • and current management practices, including the bird control program discussed above. After the visit, USDA Wildlife Services made recommendations for wildlife management at the landfill. (Odell,2011). In addition to compliance with FAA rules and regulations, the recommendations include: . • Review of all new landscaping/development plans for wildlife hazards • • Water management to eliminate standing water from the landfill whenever possible • • Vegetation management to eliminate brushy areas along ditches and streams • • Operation of wildlife hazard management patrols • Continuation of the current falconry-based bird control program at the landfill • Coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a permit to reduce • hazards to aircraft from specific threatened and endangered species and species of • special concern As discussed in III. Project Description,Relocate South Fork of South Littlejohn Creek, riparian habitat is proposed to be restored and/or created offsite rather than being created within the • relocated creek channel,to address Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) concerns regarding creation of bird habitat. This would address the USDA Wildlife Services recommendations for review of new landscaping/development plans for wildlife hazards,water management to eliminate standing water from the landfill whenever possible,and vegetation management to • eliminate brushy areas along ditches and streams. Mitigation Measure A.1, above, incorporates the recommendations of USDA Wildlife Services, but excludes the USDA Wildlife Services recommendations for special-status bird species and the • removal of prey base for predatory birds and mammals, for reasons that are explained below. Large flocking birds (i.e. gulls, geese) are the species most associated with bird airstrikes.4 The proposed relocation of Littlejohns Creek would not result in a net increase in area of habitat for those bird species most associated with bird strike hazards for aircraft. Bird species such as gulls • and geese that pose the greatest risk for aviation at the landfill are the focus of the existing bird • control program. In addition to large flocking birds, raptors (birds of prey), which include special-status bird • species,may also be present in the project vicinity. Based on records of bird strikes, raptors are • much less likely to be involved in aircraft strikes than flocking birds such as gulls. The project site • is surrounded by agricultural land, which provides extensive habitat for the prey base (e.g., rodents) of raptors. An abundant supply of prey would therefore be available whether or not the • " Mike Wood,Biologist,Wood Biological Consulting,Inc., personal communication,September 12, 2011.