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r • Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Page IV.F-37 Forward Inc.Landfill 2018 Expansion Project • myotis may forage over the South Branch of the South Fork of Littlejohn's Creek. Relocation of the South Branch of the South Fork of Littlejohn's Creek could result in a temporary reduction • in foraging habitat and a disruption in foraging behavior by special-status bat species such as red bat. However, abundant foraging habitat similar to that being affected is available in the immediate project vicinity. In addition, the proposed project, which includes the relocation of • 3,000 feet and restoration of 3,200 feet of South Branch of the South Fork of Littlejohn's Creek, is • expected to result in a net increase in the quantity and quality of wetland habitat onsite, therefore increasing suitable foraging habitat for special-status bat species. This impact is considered less than significant and no mitigation is required. • Impact F.8. Loss of Nonnative Annual Grassland and Ruderal Vegetation, and Freshwater • Emergent Wetland. The project-related loss of wildlife habitat would minimal. All construction activities and associated habitat conversions would occur within the boundary of the existing landfill. The proposed northeast landfill development area is regularly disked and was devoid of vegetation at the time of the 2018 site visit; in this condition it provides little wildlife habitat • value. This area would be replaced with an active, then capped landfill, which ultimately would provide similar or improved wildlife habitat value. The property owner has already paid the HCP mitigation fees associated with the loss of foraging habitat for this area. • Most of the southeast landfill relocation area currently is used as a composting facility and • provides little wildlife habitat value. In this area, the ground is covered with rows/piles of composed and there is no vegetation. This area would be replaced with a capped landfill, which in the long-term would likely provide improved wildlife habitat value. The proposed sedimentation and leachate ponds would be constructed in the vicinity of an existing leachate • pond and/or within disturbed habitats; therefore these project components would not • substantially alter the current habitat value. Also,the landfill implements a rodent control program, which further detracts from the habitat quality of the site by limiting prey for raptors. The proposed relocation of the South Branch of the South Fork of Little John's Creek would . result in a net increase in riparian and wetland vegetation. No trees are located on the project • site, and therefore none would be removed as part of the project. Swainson's hawk (a state-listed species) and other special-status bird species forage over • grassland habitat and may use the existing landfill habitats for foraging. However,the value of • the property for foraging raptors is limited by the ongoing rodent control program. • Additionally, the habitats to be disturbed by the project (i.e., disked areas devoid of vegetation and an active compost facility) provide limited value for foraging raptors. These areas would be replaced with a capped landfill providing similar or improved wildlife habitat value in the • long-term. In the short-term, there would be a loss of habitat potentially used by Swainson's • hawks as foraging habitat and the County considers any loss of potential Swainson's hawk habitat to contribute to a significant county-wide impact. While the property owner has already paid the HCP mitigation fees associated with the loss of foraging habitat for the proposed northeast landfill development area, the HCP mitigation fees have not been paid for the 8.6 • acres to be developed in the southern portion of the property. Therefore, the loss of wildlife • habitat (including raptor foraging habitat) is considered a cumulatively significant impact.