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4.7 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES acre site, with four of the fairways located in Brovelli Woods. The primary project access would extend through Brovelli Woods and cross the Mokelumne River. Significance Criteria CEQA guidelines state that a project will normally have a significant effect on the environment if the project will substantially affect a rare or endangered species of animal or plant or the habitat of the species; interfere substantially with the movement of any resident or migratory fish or wildlife species; or substantially diminish habitat for fish,wildlife or plants. Furthermore,three major biotic factors were considered when identifying the potential impacts which could occur if the project site was developed as proposed. The project site presently functions as a "biological island"containing two of the few remaining examples of a once dominant feature of the Central Valley environment which is a large seasonal wetland lake and mature riparian woodland(Figure 4.7-1). These ecological features are now scarce in the Central Valley. The further loss of these habitats is currently being opposed both by governmental agencies and private conservation groups. A second consideration is the worth of the Tracy Lakes as a wintering and breeding habitat for migrating water birds. Although only one of these species, the greater sandhill crane, is afforded protection under the California Endangered Species Act, the wintering habitat of all waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway is protected under the Migratory Bird Conservation Act, 1929. Finally, there is the fact that one of the two state-listed threatened species, the Swainson's hawk, nests and forages on and adjacent to the project site. In this instance, the present "Mitigation Guidelines for Swainson's Hawks (Buteo swainsoni) in the Central Valley of California" will serve as a guideline for assessing impacts in this category. glxee-it This is the document under which preservation requests by the California Department of Fish and Game, Region 2, will be made. It should be noted that the Buckeye Ranch Management Plan presents a number of sound mitigation measures for the long-term improvement and restoration of the project site's habitats. Those which are appropriate for this section are incorporated into the following set of suggested mitigation measures. Unless otherwise noted, all identified impacts are considered significant adverse impacts. The corresponding mitigation measures, unless otherwise noted,would be sufficient to reduce the impacts to a less-than-significant level. Impact 4.7-1 The proposed development would result in the loss and disruption of nesting and foraging habitat for the Swainson's hawk. 4.7-25