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U . BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES <br /> U-1 . Pot-ntially Significant Impact : Elimination of <br /> Agr _ltural Lands Used by Wildlife <br /> [ Impact 4 . 13-1] <br /> Development of the Project would result in the <br /> elimination of the all existing agricultural wildlife <br /> habitat , totaling approximately 4 , 270 acres . Some of <br /> this habitat is used by State and Federal protected <br /> wildlife species . <br /> Finding : Changes or alterations have been required in, <br /> or incorporated into , the Project which avoid or <br /> substantially lessen the significant environmental effect <br /> as identified in the FEIR to a non-significant level . <br /> These mitigation measures are listed below. The DFG and <br /> U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service are also responsible for <br /> some of these measures . <br /> Statement of Fact : The impact will be reduced by the <br /> following , which will mitigate the impacts on unprotected <br /> wildlife from the loss of agricultural land: <br /> • The entire area north of Byron Road containing <br /> approximately 1, 500 acres must be set aside as an <br /> agricultural preserve to be enhanced and managed for <br /> the Swainson' s Hawk and other protected wildlife <br /> species . (See discussion below regarding alternative <br /> to mitigate for impact offsite . ) <br /> • If the 1, 500 acres is preserved on-site, then given <br /> the minimum mitigation bank foraging acreage to <br /> support one pair of Swainson ' s Hawk (CDFG, 1990) , <br /> preservation of this portion of the Project Site <br /> would adequately accommodate the one known pair that <br /> forages there, plus numerous other observed <br /> individuals . <br /> • A management and enhancement p -an also must be <br /> developed and implemented for the recommended <br /> agricultural preserve, which will ensure a highly <br /> productive foraging habitat in perpetuity for the <br /> Swainson ' s Hawk. <br /> • The recommended management and enhancement plan would <br /> also seek to create agreements with the present and <br /> future owners whereby a guaranteed minimal acreage of <br /> alfalfa would always be in production. This <br /> guarantee must be accomplished by designed a master <br /> decade-by-decade alfalfa rotation plan to which all <br /> C2-60 <br /> 0189r/020Zr <br />