SU0013451 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

D73: Comments noted. There were also quite a few house sparrows, starlings and rock doves observed on the site. As called for in the CEQA process, the study focused on threatened,rare, endangered and candidate state and federal species. D74: The commenter states that Swainson' hawks feed in seasonal wetland habitats that are characterized by emergent vegetation,in some cases low growing,which support numerous large insects and rodents. The commenter also states that Swainson's hawk exploits these habitats particularly from April through June. These statements support the EIR in that the conversion of North Tracy Lake to a steep-sided, permanent wetland would eliminate a sizeable potential foraging area for this species. It is the opinion of the EIR biologist and apparently the belief of CDFG, that the applicant's South Tracy Lake management plan cannot adequately offset this loss. Thus, CDFG calls for a 1:1 mitigation for this loss. D75: The accepted work scope for the Buckeye Ranch EIR was confined to this site and did not propose or request funds for time intensive feeding observation studies in outlying areas. While the catch term "more study is needed" can never be disputed at face value, the reality of time and money allotted for EIR studies remains the controlling factor. D76: This information is noted, however, the CDFG Mitigation Guidelines for Swainson's Hawk is the official criteria for which to assess impacts to this species. D77: See CDFG response B7. Also please refer to Distribution and Abundance of Larger Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) Wintering in California's Central Valley,Pogson& Lindstedt, 1991, The Condor, 93:266-278,with special attention to preferred roosting sites. D78: First of all, the southwestern pond turtle (C. m.pallida)is NOT a threatened species in the State of California. Secondly, the project site is in an area where the range maps for the two California subspecies, marmorata and pallida, overlap and form intergrades (Stebbins, 1985), hence the use of both subspecies' names in the text. Admittedly,it would perhaps have been less confusing, but also less precise to use only one or the other. The marmorata subspecies is a species of concern, while the pallida subspecies has been allotted a Candidate 2 status by the federal government. The Wildlife Society—Western Section has just concluded their annual meetings in Monterey, California, at which the first western pond turtle workshop was held. Perhaps the most important point raised here concerned the recent discovery that this species may migrate several hundred meters to upland wintering habitat from water habitats, such as those on the project site. Region 2 CDFG biologists may be requesting further surveys for this species to determine hibernaculum sites. D79: The cessation of grazing and return to a more natural grassland community with good rodent production is one of the EIR's main mitigation features for the South Tracy Lake area. The upgrading from the degraded condition that stock grazing creates, partially supports the suggestions that the southern"reserve" area would offset habitat loss to development in the North Tracy Lake area. D80: The point about riparian forests around the Tracy Lakes is debatable. Classical seasonal wetlands do not support riparian trees because the soil drys out too quickly and cannot sustain these types of trees. While the riparian trees may reach "heritage" proportions in 40 years, this may not meet any of the CDFG published guidelines for this species. VI-161