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SECTION 2 Introduction ` 2.1 Study Area Description The study area is situated east of Koster Road,the Delta-Mendota Canal,and South Costa Ranch Road, south of Blewett Road,west of Welty Road, approximately two miles east-northeast of the Interstate 580-Interstate 5 interchange,and approximately three miles east of the intersection of State Routes 395 East and 299 East(Figure 1). The name of the portion of Koster Road from the bridge crossing the Delta-Mendota Canal south along the west side of the project site has recently been changed from Koster Road to South Costa Ranch Road. The portion of the road that crosses ` over to the west side of the Delta-Mendota Canal remains Koster Road. The closest developed community is Vernalis,which is located approximately two miles to the northeast. The study area extends from San Joaquin County into Stanislaus County. It is located in Township 4 South,Range 6 East, Sections 4 and 9 of the U.S. Geological Survey(USGS) Solyo 7.5-minute quadrangle. The study area encompasses approximately 688 acres of land, of which ., approximately 590 acres are located within San Joaquin County and approximately 98 acres are located in Stanislaus County. The western border of the study area is the Delta-Mendota Canal, from the San Joaquin/Stanislaus county line north to Blewett Road. Hospital Creek crosses the southwest corner of the site. The Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct is located across Blewett Road to the north of the project site and parallels Blewett Road. The California Aqueduct is located approximately 2,000 feet west of the project site. The project site is currently planted with row crops and orchards,with apricots as the main crop. Improvements on the project site include a residence and barn on the privately owned parcels off South Costa Ranch Road,a mobile home and outbuilding on the north side of Hospital Creek,and two mobile homes south of Hospital Creek. The surrounding properties are used for agricultural crops,orchards, an agricultural composting facility,and mining. Another mining operation, located directly to the south of the project site, has been permitted but not yet built. A rural residence is located adjacent to the northeast side of the site along Blewett Road. Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project 2-1 ESA/203015 Wetland Delineation Report Fetauary 2006