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Such open space will provide a scenic setting for travellers on the I-5 freeway and State Route 132 as well as for area residents travelling on County roads through and adjacent to the project site. Nature Preserve The Concept Site Plan for the project proposes to re-create an original Central Valley wetlands area as a Nature Preserve for wildlife and vegetation and as a conservation educational resource for children and the general public. California has lost over 90% of its original wetlands resources and current agricultural practices and urban pressures in the Central Valley threaten even further losses. The project proposes to counter this trend by donating the wetlands area and a protective surrounding buffer to a private conservation organization or a public agency. This organization/agency will develop and protect such preserve in perpetuity. The Nature Preserve will provide for wild fowl resting and nesting areas and a self-sustaining ecological system and will also offer the opportunity for a conservation awareness and learning program for students in the south San Joaquin County area. The Rancho San Joaquin Nature Preserve will be the first privately undertaken project of its kind in the northern Central Valley. It will produce a significant and much needed wetlands habitat for water birds which will complement nearby sites adjacent to the San Joaquin River. It will greatly enhance the scenic value of the residential and golf course development and will provide the added dimension of"living next to nature" for those who reside there. Finally, it will provide countless nature study and research opportunities for grade school, high school, and university students in the greater Tracy area plus an attractive and productive site for amateur naturalists of all ages to observe and enjoy wildlife. Recreational Resources for Area Residents Rancho San Joaquin will offer several public recreational opportunities to residents of New Jerusalem, Tracy, south San Joaquin County and north Stanislaus County. These include: 1. Hiking and biking on pathways around and through the project site. 2. Golf course play for beginners, intermediate and advanced players on the project's courses. 3. Community use of the Club House meeting rooms. 4. Sponsorship of a student golf program for youngsters at the on-site school. 5. Use of the school playfields for a variety of sporting events. 6. Nature studies at the Nature Preserve. Air Quality Mitigation The project will incorporate a voluntary multiple-strategy air pollution reduction program. Project and area residents will benefit from: • Park and ride lots with bus shelters and bike storage facilities. 33