SU0006227 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MOUNTAIN HOUSE PROPOSED MACHADO TENTATIVE MAP 4. ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST 4.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES i LSETTING L The east side of the project site has been used for a dairy since 1950. Dairy operations ceased in June 2005. The buildings, other structures, and waste ponds that were part of the dairy remain on the site. The rest of the site was pasture land that now lies fallow. A burrowing owl, a federal and state species of concern,was sighted on the east bank of the diary's manure pond in 1994. The Byron-Bethany Irrigation District's (BBID)Canal 120 traverses Lthe southern portion of the site in a northwest-to-southeast direction. Trees, mostly California black walnut,exist along Grant Line Road that borders the north side of the site ` (EDAW, 2005b). L SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS IDENTIFIED IN 2005 SPIIIEIR LThe SPIIIEIR identifies biological resource impacts associated with development of Specific Plan III, of which the proposed project is a part. Impacts concerning conversion of habitat for common plant and animal species; conversion of special-status amphibian and reptile ` habitat; conversion of Swainson's hawk habitat, loss of active nests and removal of nest trees; loss of foraging habitat for other special-status birds; and tree removal were found to be less than significant. L The following impacts were identified as potentially significant or significant: Impact 4.10-2: Biological Resources—Conversion of Habitat for Special-Status L Plants. [Development of Specific Plan III] would result in conversion of habitat that could support special-status plant species. The MHMP and MHMP Mitigation Monitoring Plan do not identify policies or mitigation for potential impacts to the L special-status plant species that could occur at the [Specific Plan III] site and off-site improvement areas. Therefore, a significant impact could occur. 6. Impact 4.10-5: Biological Resources—Conversion of Burrowing Owl Foraging Habitat and Potential Destruction of Active Burrows. [Development of Specific Plan IIl] would result in conversion of burrowing owl foraging habitat and could I_ result in destruction of occupied burrows. Implementation of measures presented in Section 7.3.5 of the MHMP would compensate for loss of burrowing owl foraging habitat and avoid loss of active nest burrows. It would not, however, avoid L destruction of potential occupied burrows during the non-nesting season. A significant impact would occur. Impact 4.10-6: Biological Resources—Conversion of Common Nesting Raptor Habitat and Possible Loss of Active Nests. [Development of Specific Plan III] would convert suitable foraging habitat and could result in loss of active nests of r white-tailed kite, northern harrier, and other common raptor species. Implementation of measures presented in Section 7.3.5 of the MHMP would compensate for loss of foraging habitat and would avoid loss of active nests in trees more than 30 feet tall, ` but would not apply to nests in smaller trees, low vegetation, or on the ground. A significant impact could occur. 4-17 r.