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1. Project's Coordinator <br /> 2 . Mr. Kerry Sullivan <br /> April 3 , 1992 <br /> Page Two <br /> As an illustration, one feature of the proposed project <br /> consists of the excavation of 1. 6 million cubic yards of <br /> soil from the bottom of Tracy Lakes to construct a year- <br /> round irrigation water storage facility. The proposed <br /> A9 excavation will eliminate the riparian/seasonal marsh <br /> habitat that currently exists in Tracy Lakes. Similar <br /> riparian/seasonal marsh habitat located a short distance <br /> away at the Nature Conservancy's Cosumnes Preserve provides <br /> important winter waterfowl habitat as well as sandhill crane <br /> roost sites and raptor foraging. Although the proposed <br /> project will result in the loss of over 340 acres of <br /> seasonal wetlands, the Draft EIR does not discuss, analysis, <br /> or provide mitigation for this. Please be advised that the <br /> DFG opposes wetland development projects unless project <br /> mitigation assures there will be no net loss of either <br /> wetland habitat values or acreage. <br /> The Draft EIR fails to discuss the impacts associated with <br /> relatively large scale conversions of natural habitat. In <br /> A10 addition to the conversion of approximately 340 acres of <br /> seasonal marsh to irrigation storage ponds, the project will <br /> result in the loss of 13 acres of mature riparian forest and <br /> an undetermined amount of oak savannah and vernal pool <br /> habitat. <br /> In order to assess this project's impact on fish and <br /> wildlife, we recommend that the Draft EIR be revised to <br /> include: <br /> An analysis of the proposed project' s effect on <br /> wildlife habitat. This analysis should specify how <br /> much, and what kinds of wildlife habitat will be lost <br /> A11 so that a clear picture of the project's effect on <br /> wildlife habitat will be provided to the decision <br /> makers. <br /> Alternative project designs which avoid or minimize <br /> habitat losses. <br /> Proposed mitigation measures which off-set unavoidable <br /> losses of wildlife habitat. <br /> r2 . The Draft EIR fails to identify the project' s effect on <br /> State- and federally-listed rare, threatened, or endangered <br /> Al2 plants and animals. As indicated in DFG's response to the <br /> Notice of Preparation, we are particularly concerned with <br /> the project 's effect on the greater sandhill crane (Grus <br /> canadensis tabida) , Swainson 's hawk (Buteo swainsoni) , giant <br /> III-8 <br />