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Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Page IV.F-29 Forward Inc. Landfill 2018 Expansion Project comply with a higher permit-required replacement ratio for wetland impacts, and also provide opportunities for riparian habitat mitigation. In lieu of purchasing mitigation credits, if additional wetland mitigation (greater than the 1.87 acres proposed as part of the project)is required as a permit condition,the Sacramento District of the USACE has an"In Lieu Fee Program' to which the project sponsor may make payment. The fee is based on a fee schedule for various wetland habitat types. The fee is payable to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation(NFWF)to be deposited in NFWF's Sacramento District Wetlands Conservation Fund. This mitigation measure would reduce significant impacts to the Creek and associated jurisdictional resources to less than significant levels because it would provide restored habitat at an equal or greater value to the lost habitat within the relocated creek segment, and provide for compliance with the conditions of permits to be issued by the USACE,RWQCB, and CDFW. Impact F.2. Potential"Take"of Chinook Salmon and Steelhead. Construction of the realigned channel and abandonment of the existing channel could result in the stranding of fish. In addition, if the relocated channel is opened up immediately prior to a significant rainfall event and/or a significant release of irrigation water, a sediment plume could attract Chinook salmon and/or steelhead from the San Joaquin River into the channel and cause potential mortality to the fish. This is a potentially significant impact. In the long term, restoration of the realigned creek channel would provide habitat for some semi-aquatic and riparian wildlife species,but is not expected to provide suitable habitat for salmonids due to low flows and the highly modified flow regime(pers. comm. Sydney Temple, Questa Engineering Corporation). Mitigation Measure F.2-1. To ensure that no aquatic vertebrates are stranded during abandonment of the existing South Branch of the South Fork of Littlejohn s Creek, the following measures shall be implemented: • Channel abandonment shall be restricted to the dry season (i.e.,between June 15 and October 15). • Channel abandonment shall occur only when the channel bottom has been dry for at least one week, that is, at least one week after the most recent release of water from Farmington Reservoir or any other sources. • Prior to initiation of any work within the abandoned channel(e.g., construction of coffer dams, filling, connecting to the realigned channel), a qualified biologist approved by the USFWS and CDFW shall inspect the entire length of the work area for any stranded aquatic vertebrates; any stranded aquatic vertebrates shall be captured and relocated to the nearest body of water in the same stream system. • Only a qualified biologist with all necessary federal and/or State permits may relocate fish and amphibians. Federally and State-listed species may only be relocated by biologist holding the appropriate federal or State permits. A record shall be maintained and submitted to the USFWS and CDFW of all fish and amphibians captured and relocated.