SU0013451 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

4.7 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES 4.7-1(d) Because the study revealed both nesting and foraging opportunities for the threatened hawk on the project site, the CDFG Mitigation Guidelines for the Swainson's Hawk, 1990, apply. Accordingly, the applicant must consult with CDFG as required by the CDFG Regulations, Section 2081, with the goal of developing a management plan that will result in a net benefit to this species. It should be noted here the small sapling planting project presently underway in the south central pan of the site cannot be considered adequate mitigation for the loss of critical Swainson's hawk nesting habitat because it would take nearly 100 years for such a stand of young oaks to grow to the size required by this species for nesting. Swainson's hawks are attracted to heritage size trees which are usually no less than 100 years old. The purpose of the Endangered Species Act is to preserve critical habitat now as opposed to providing more at some distant date when the species could very well be extinct in the region in question. 4.7-1(e) Develop a detailed plan for the construction of a "Scottish-type" golf course for the project site. Such a course is mentioned on Page 75 of the Buckeye Ranch Management Plan, but no details are given. This prototype golf course is constructed so that the fairways which normally constitute the bulk of a course are maintained in natural low growth vegetation and only the greens are planted in grass and closely mowed. With this concept in mind, an alternate restoration plan for the proposed Brovelli Woods fairways would be to design these and perhaps the entire course in the Scottish style, using the grassland restoration plan designed by Muick in the Buckeye Ranch Management Plan in all fairway areas. The four golf course holes proposed within Brovelli woods could then serve the dual purpose as foraging sites during the Swainson's hawk nesting season (April through July)and alternate fairways for the golf course during the remaining two thirds of the year. This concept of "time share" use of Brovelli Woods between the Swainson's hawk and golfers should be thoroughly explored with CDFG. 4.7-1(t) Prohibit all use of rodenticides outside of the pr-opesed development ama as ind! en F4gum 4.7 . on the entire project area. If an alternate fairway plan for Brovelli Woods is adapted, eenfr-el gepher-s and ground squiffels in the immediate green ama-9 only use burrow fumigants to control gophers and ground squirrels. It should be noted that the Integrated Pest Management Plan eluded to in the Buckeye Ranch Management Plan would not appear to apply to rodent control since such plans normally rely on the introduction of natural predators for control. In this case, several species of natural predators are already resident on the site (red-tail hawk, Swainson's hawk, great horned owl, coyote, etc.). 4.13-1(g) Eliminate all cattle grazing on the entire project site and institute the Muick grassland restoration plan (with the exception of sheep grazing) throughout the present grassland and oak savanna area outside of the suggested North Tracy Lake development area. This enhancement would greatly increase the rodent productivity of approximately two thirds 4.7-29