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D147: Refer to response B6. D 148: Refer to response B8. In addition,note that the consulting biologist does not designate stick piles in trees as Swainson's hawk nests until this species is observed attending the site. This was the case with the second nest siting identified in the EIR text. D 149: It is the consultant's opinion that a mitigation measure which would ensure shallow marshy areas in South Tracy Lake contain water throughout the fall/winter/early spring season in drought years, as well as wet years, is a very significant step towards improving the former potential roosting habitat of this species on the site. Unfortunately,the best foraging areas for wintering sandhill cranes in the Central Valley appear to be sprouting oat,barley and wheat fields. Unless the upland portions of the site are planted with these grains it is unlikely the proposed situation would be improved over the present state. D150: The winter of 1991-1992 produced the first significant rainfall for Ambystomid salamander breeding in more than five years in Central California. This fact is supported by numerous positive finds of larva throughout the region during the spring of 1992. All vernal pools were seined on several occasions with no larva captured. The beaver pond is unsuitable for Ambystomid species. Seining of the Tracy Lake inshore areas also failed to produce larva. The past practice of draining the lakes in spring,tilling and planting sudan grass long ago eliminated any former breeding population from this area. Given that there are NO CDFG or USFWS guidelines for specific surveys for ANY of the special status taxa on the site, it is the consulting biologists opinion that the methods used are not only biologically sound, but well within the protocol presently employed in EIR biological investigations. D151: The EIR addresses the impact of the golf course fairways on Brovelli Woods. The consultants recommended a mitigation measure for an unmowed,ungrazed and unpoisoned woodland fairway system which would be "played" only during those months when the Swainson's hawk were not on site. D 152: The EIR consultants are grateful to the San Joaquin Audubon Society for the bird list for the project site which was compiled over a number of years. Such information is impossible to obtain from a one-season study. This information is included in Appendix F of the EIR. D 153: Comments relate to the project and not to the adequacy of the EIR. D 154: The development plan was considered site specific, incorporating existing biological resources which would not be found elsewhere. Thus, an alternative site was not evaluated. The mitigated alternative is far superior to the no project alternative unless the site is purchased for conservation purposes. However,if left as agricultural land,cattle grazing,vandalism,poaching and trespassing would continue to degrade or destroy the site's resources. D155: Refer to CDFG comments and responses. D156: Refer to Mokelumne River Alliance response D124. VI-167