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SWE OF CALIFORNIA—THE RESOURCES AGENCY PETE WILSON, Go" , DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME REGION 2 -. .- 1701 NIMBUS ROAD, SUITE A `fes RANCHO CORDOVA, CA 95670 (916) 355-7020 April 26, 1993 j =E w Ms. Loree Goold �yg��{! r San Joaquin County APP z9 1993 Community Development Department 1810 East Hazelton Street 60MMUN11 t tl[vtl vr:Y:_:e. L;L,.L Stockton, California 95205 PLANNING DIu4SION Dear Ms. Goold: The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has reviewed the proposed Use Permit 93-0007 for Hiram Sibley. The project is located on the west side of MacArthur Drive at the intersection of Delta Avenue near Tracy in San Joaquin County. The project consists of a plan to construct a golf course with driving range and club house on approximately 96 acres. Wildlife habitat conditions consist of agricultural fields bordered by riparian habitat. The project site is bordered on the north by Paradise Cut and on the west by Sugar Cut. The project site and the surrounding area is devoted primarily to growing alfalfa, wheat, barley, and row crops. Both of the bordering waterways provide extensive riparian habitat. The association of suitable agricultural foraging areas in close proximity to riparian nesting habitat makes the project site a prime habitat for the Swainson' s hawk. California Natural Diversity Data Base files contain records for the State-listed threatened Swainson' s hawk (Buteo swainsoni) . These records indicate that there are Swainson' s hawk nest sites within a relatively short distance from the project site. The DFG has recently reviewed a similar project located a short distance to the south (UP-93-0003) which may result in the loss of 20 acres of foraging habitat. The cumulative effect of these two golf course projects is the loss of 116 acres of Swainson' s hawk foraging habitat in an area that has been identified in the proposed City of Tracy Urban Management Plan as an agricultural preserve. The area, as proposed by the City of Tracy, would function as a dual purpose agricultural preserve and Swainson' hawk habitat area. The habitat characteristics and management practices associated with golf courses and driving ranges are not compatible with Swainson' s hawk foraging needs . In fact, the typical rodent control measures employed on golf courses may present a hazard to the Swainson' s hawk. Any activity resulting in the loss of habitat, decreased reproductive success, or other negative effects on population levels of State-listed threatened