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e <br /> c. Mitigation for foraging areas shall be a minimm, 1:1 acre <br /> ratio (i.e., 1 acre replacement for each 1 acre loss of <br /> habitat) and with a minimum of loo acquired in fee and <br /> actually managed for Swainson's hawk habitat. Increased <br /> mitigation ratios may be necessary in certain instances in <br /> order to maintain adequate foraging habitat to support <br /> Swainson's hawk populations or if a project site provides <br /> breeding or foraging habitat for more than one pair. Due <br /> to its seasonal availability and potential high value <br /> during limited periods, mitigation for rice lands shall be <br /> at a minimum of 0.5:1 ratio. Lards shall be considered as <br /> rice habitat only if farmed to rice for seven of the ten <br /> previous years and 15 of the previous 20 years. <br /> Habitat management plans for several areas are currently <br /> being prepared which ray identify new information regarding <br /> habitat requirements for nesting pairs. Therefore, these <br /> criteria are to be considered interim guidelines and <br /> mitigation ratios may increase for future projects based on <br /> additional information from scientific research on this <br /> species. <br /> D. Retention of Habitat <br /> Retain and create sufficient quality habitat to maintain existing <br /> population levels and to allow for future population increases to <br /> meet recovery goals for the Swainson's hawk (as to be determined by <br /> the Swainson's Hawk Recovery Plan) . <br /> 1. Restoration and enhancement of Swainson's hawk nesting and <br /> foraging habitats through the creation and establishment of <br /> habitat management areas. <br /> a. Mitigation areas must meet the following minimum criteria: <br /> i. Minimum acreage size of 1,280 contiguous or semi- <br /> contiguous acres of suitable habitat. Smaller <br /> individual projects may participate in mitigation banks <br /> or fee assessment programs to acquire the minimum <br /> acreage needed to support a nesting pair. <br /> 10 <br />