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4� Potential Impacts Which Could Result From an Expansion of the Gravel Quarry Operation on the Project Site The land use change proposed for those area outside of the ter_ current quarry facility is an expansion of gravel mining to both _ the orchard area and the former quarry site west of I-580. These areas have been designated Mineral Resource Zone Sectors 2, 3 and 4 under the 1988 California Department of Conservation Special Report 160. orchagd, Area It should be initially noted here that the gravel mining proposed for the present orchard area will take place in two phases, and part of the total orchard will remaining in production while the ' other segment of progressively mined. In addition, California ' state law now requires that mining companies restore mined lands ' to their prior use state within two year after the cessation of quarrying on each segment. In this case, the completed first f phase orchard area will be restored to agricultural use during the early stages of quarrying on the other half of the orchard site. This second area will also be restored to agricultural use ., within two years after mining ceases at the orchard site. Given this legal assurance that there will be no permanently loss of agricultural acreage, the general inhospitable nature of the almond orchard area to wildlife, and the fact that no special ' status species , including -the SJKF; were detected there, no significant impacts to wildlife would result from the proposed .. phased aravel quarrying project proposed for this area. F old ouarry Site Area West P..f_ I-580 " If all but the immediate Hospital Creek channel on the portion of the project site west of I-580 project site was developed as a new gravel quarry site, terrestrial wildlife species, including the occasional wandering SJKF, may be discouraged from using this ., movement corridor. In addition, the vernal pools which fill E: during high rainfall . years in the western creek flood plain area would most likely be lost. Finally, several avian special status . species which presently include the stock pond site within their ,: foraging area may vacate this feeding place due to disturbance �+ factors such as excessive truck traffic, increased cattle concentration, guard dog presence, etc. All of these possibilities must be viewed as ,potential adverse impacts. 4 Suggested Mitigations Hospital Creek Flood Plain Protection and Enhancement The Hospital Creek course and flood plain area on the project site should be preserved and enhanced. The preservation zone west of I-580 should be wide enough to include all vernal pool sites at the western end of the property, including the current stock pond. The width of the enhancement zone should be approximately 350 feet in the stock pond/creek area and then gradually taper to the I-580 underpass . F � � 16