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4.7 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES eliminated. The additional loss of grassland through the construction of recreational facilities, such as the proposed 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, and horse stables and paddocks,would eliminate about 75 additional acres of foraging area. The annual creation of a rodent habitat in the shallow bay areas of North Tracy Lake and the western portion of South Tracy Lake would be eliminated with the proposed deepening. Although the applicant is proposing to retain seasonal wetlands throughthe use of weirs on the eastern half of South Tracy Lake, this does not offset the loss of rodent habitat which presently exists around the lakes. A lush new growth of grasses and forbs emerge on these horizontal plots of moist soil during summer and fall after the lakes begin to drain. This inshore drying and sprouting of green forage occurs about the time that the upland pasture areas are drying out. Prolific rodent species such as the California meadow vole need green grass and forbs in order to sustain a high reproductive rate throughout the summer and fall. These newly drained lake shallows are soon colonized by migrant mice from the adjacent uplands, and soon rodent populations higher than those which existed in the spring grasslands are present. All of this occurs just as the local nesting Swainson's hawks are beginning to forage for rodent prey to feed their voracious chicks. In steep-sided lakes, the steep banks dry rapidly as the water recedes, thus preventing the establishment of such pastures. Because this new habitat is forming in the shallow areas of Tracy Lakes during the nesting season for Swainson's hawks on and adjacent to the site, a significant portion of foraging habitat would be eliminated. Mitigation Measure 4.7-1(a) Redesign the development so that the golf course and the 26 houses are positioned within the hatched area surrounding North Tracy Lake as shown in Figure 4.7-15 with the exception of the area designated as high sensitivity for cultural resources. Homesites along the southeast border of the hatched area could extend to within 300 feet of the northwest shoreline of South Tracy Lake if tall tree screens were planted to provide a visual barrier between water birds and humans in the area. This area excluding the lake basin is estimated to be in excess of 473 170 acres and should, with good planning, support 50 acres for house sites and the golf course. 4.7-1(b) Eliminate the proposed private access road through Brovelli Woods which, if constructed, would further remove nesting habitat. 4.7-1(c) Restrict use of the equestrian trail in Brovelli Woods during the nesting period from March 1 to August 30, and reposition the stable area within the hatched zone shown on Figure 4.7-15. 4.7-27