SU0013451 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

APR. 8199c Rex O.Baker, Professor California State Polytechnic '.II tt �Llir��ri�1 OEPT Pomona, Ca. 'PLANNING DIVISION Plant & Soil Science Dept 3801 W. Temple Avenue Pomona, Ca. 91768 Kerry Sullivan, Senior Planner San Joaquin County Community Development Department 1810 E. Hazelton Avenue Stockton, Ca. 95205 Sub: Comments on Draft EIR No. ER-91-2 for the Proposed "Buckeye Ranch" Project As an educator, consultant and former regulatory official with over 30 years of experience in evaluating environmental factors, including; endangered species and other non-target animals, flora, contamination of water sources, health and human safety, and analysis of the need for pesticide applications; and after having prepared and participated in preparation of EIR's: I must comment on several sections of this E.I.R. with which I do not agree ! I . Impact section, 4.7-1 Pg. 4 .7-21. After review of this document and the Buckeye Ranch Management Plan (8-5-91) , I cannot agree with the EIR's statement that the plan "failed to recognize the importance of maintaining foraging habitat for the Swainson's Hawk" . The opposite is true 1 The plan goes to great length to spell out a well developed program that provides for Monitoring of the current habitats, and ecosystems (Fauna & Flora) to form a data base so that more specific Mitigating measures can be developed and implemented with continued monitoring of the ecosystems as C13 mitigation measures regeneration and management measures are applied to evaluate the effects on those systems. Some test plots for regeneration of native plants are under way. This local test plot approach is the responsible way to proceed avoiding possible set backs and failures. The plans for regeneration of native open grasslands, presently grazed by cattle and infested with undesirable forage should result in a significant improvement in the raptor foraging habitat. The present grazed grasslands are providing low food value for rodents and birds and little year round forage. Implementation of the restoration and management of native grasslands, including use of native grass and herbaceous plants on the golf fairways is very important for recovery and increased rodent and bird populations. Numerous references point out that the presence of green grass and forbes, like clover, is one of the most important factors in stimulating breeding of rodents and lagamorphs, and also plays a factor in litter size. This regeneration of Savanna, forest, pasture and Buffer type perennial plots-which might be amended to include some herbaceous III-53