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indicate a peak in use during late winter. This peak probably coincides with the pulsed flood events along the Cosumnes River. These events regularly inundate 2,000 - 5,000 acres of bottom lands which waterfowl exploit for food resources. Bract Tract along with flood lands on Staten, Bouldin and Tyler tracts supports between 60,000 and 100,000 waterfowl (Ducks Unlimited waterfowl surveys). The region around Buckeye Ranch is therefore an important wintering habitat for waterfowl. Because of its limited size and short duration of shallow seasonal marsh habitat, Buckeye Ranch supports a good diversity but relatively small numbers of waterfowl as indicated by the biotics survey (Draft EIR Buckeye Ranch 1991). However, there does exist the potential to improve wetland habitat which will result in an increased carrying capacity for those species that occur. These improvements and management goals are discussed in Section 7.0 of this plan. The Buckeye Ranch supports two species of waterfowl year-round, mallard and wood duck. Both species utilize shallow flooded pools, lake edge and flooded swales during winter. In February, both form pair bonds with wood ducks moving to the riparian corridor of the Mokelumne River. Wood Ducks are tree cavity nesters and disperse to locate appropriate nest sites. Winter concentrations of"woodies" on Tracy Lake during winter can be impressive reaching over 150 birds. Mallards probably nest on the site with limited success due to poor nesting cover in adjacent upland habitat. If successful, female mallards bring their broods to the lakes and permanent pond adjacent to South Tracy Lake (Supplemental Biotics Survey 1993). Dense emergent vegetation is needed in order for the ducklings to seek cover from predators. The lack of this type of cover around the lakes may result in reduced survivability and recruitment. Cinnamon teal, nicknamed "a fair weather duck" nests in the area, but leaves Buckeye Ranch Resource Plan (November, 1993) 55