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3 The impacts of each alternative on fish and wildlife habitats should be discussed in sufficient detail to allow comparison between the alternatives. The document should discuss growth-inducing impacts of the project. The development of housing in a rural area such as the project site could promote further similar developments. A discussion of secondary project impacts, such as water quality impacts resulting from discharge of golf course runoff into surface waters, is needed. Finally, the cumulative impacts of this project on fish and wildlife habitats, when viewed in conjunction with past and potential future development projects in the Stockton region, must be thoroughly addressed. The listed species identified in Attachment A are fully protected under the mandates of the Endangered Species Act (Act) , as amended. Section 9 of the Act and its implementing regulations prohibit the "take" of a federally listed wildlife species. Take is defined by the Act "to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect" any such wildlife species. Take may include significant habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding, or shelter (50 CFR § 17.3) . Take incidental to an otherwise lawful activity may be authorized by one of two procedures. If a Federal agency is involved with the permitting, funding, or carrying out of this project, initiation of formal consultation is required between that agency and the Service pursuant to Section 7 of the Act if it is determined that the proposed project may affect a federally listed species. Such consultation could result in a biological opinion that addresses anticipated effects of the project to listed and proposed species and may authorize a limited level of incidental take. If a Federal agency is not involved with the project, and federally listed species may be taken as part of the project, then an "incidental take" permit pursuant to Section 10(a) of the Act should be obtained. The Service may issue such a permit upon completion by the permit applicant of a satisfactory conservation plan for the listed species that would be affected by the project. Because federally listed species may be found in the proposed project area, we recommend that surveys for them be undertaken by qualified biologists. We also recommend that surveys be undertaken for the candidate species included in Attachment A. The results of these surveys should be published in the environmental impact report. Should these surveys determine that federally listed species occur on the project site and are likely to be adversely affected by the proposed project, the Service recommends that the project proponent, in consultation with this office and the California Department of Fish and Came, develop a plan that mitigates for the project's direct and indirect impacts to listed species and compensates for project-related loss of habitat. This mitigation plan should be included in the environmental impact report. Based on our review of the document, it appears that much of the sensitive habitat is being avoided.