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f The project site presently functions as a "biological island"containingtwo 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 since it 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 4.13-1 The proposed development would result in the loss and disruption of nesting and foraging habitat for the Swainson's hawk. If constructed as proposed, the Buckeye Ranch project would result in a loss of critical nesting habitat and foraging habitat for the threatened Swainson's hawk. Prior to the time when the application for the Buckeye Ranch development was filed, a small segment of Brovelli Woods was logged in preparation of the golf course construction. This could be considered a taking of habitat for a state threatened species under the California fish and Game Code, Section 2080. If the golf course project is completed as proposed, the daily presence of golfers, plus fairway maintenance personnel and equipment on the fairways which are proposed within and adjacent to Brovelli Woods, would create a disturbance factor for nesting hawks which is prohibited in Section II-1-A of the CDFG Mitigation Guidelines. It is noted in making this projection that the proposed golf course is presently slated for the exclusive use of the future residents of the 26 homes proposed for the site and their guests, thus, on some days traffic in the woodland fairways may be minimal. However, heavy weekend use, plus occasional tournaments, would seem sufficient to create a disturbance factor. An additional disturbance factor would result from the equestrian trail proposed through Brovelli Woods. The loss of a number of acres of old growth foothill/riparian woodland,a preferred nesting habitat for this raptor, has occurred as an initial part of the golf course construction project. 23