Laserfiche WebLink
STATE OF CALIFORNIA—THE RESOURCES AGENCY PETE WILSON, Govemor <br /> DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME _ <br /> REGION 2 <br /> 1701 NIMBUS ROAD, SUITE A s <br /> RANCHO CORDOVA, CALIFORNIA 95670 <br /> ,916) 355-7020 <br /> January 26, 1993 4le ��` 1 <br /> Ms. Kerry Sullivan <br /> San Joaquin County FEB 1 1993 <br /> Community Development Department COMMUN►TyL)0 <br /> 1810 East Hazelton P�ANNINOt�vr' <br /> Stockton, California 95205 DIOji.Oh <br /> Dear Ms . Sullivan: <br /> The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has reviewed the <br /> Revised Biological Section (RBS) of the draft Environmental <br /> Impact Report (EIR) for the Buckeye Ranch project, <br /> (SCH# 91012103 ) . The Buckeye Ranch project is located five miles <br /> northwest of Lodi, in San Joaquin County. The project consists <br /> of a plan to develop a private, gated community of 26 homesites, <br /> an 18-hole golf course, an equestrian center, and a 720 acre <br /> nature preserve. The total acreage is 870 acres . <br /> Wildlife habitat conditions are of a high quality and <br /> consist of a rich and diverse assemblage of habitat types . The <br /> project site contains some of the best and last examples of <br /> mature riparian and foothill woodland forests in San Joaquin <br /> County. There are also large areas of oak savannah, seasonal <br /> wetlands, and scattered vernal pools . DFG records indicate that <br /> the project site provides habitat for at least two State-listed <br /> threatened species, the Swainson' s hawk (Buteo swainsoni ) and <br /> greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida) <br /> The RBS proposes to concentrate the major features of the <br /> proposed development (homesites, golf course, equestrian <br /> facilities, etc. ) on the northern portion of the project site <br /> near the north Tracy Lake and Forest Lake Road, and away from the <br /> most environmentally sensitive areas like Brovelli Woods and the B2 <br /> south Tracy Lake. Since the highest wildlife habitat values are <br /> associated with these environmentally sensitive areas, this <br /> strategy is superior to the one presented in the EIR which placed <br /> the development features where they have the greatest <br /> environmental impact. <br /> In our earlier comments on the draft EIR for the Buckeye <br /> Ranch project dated April 3, 1992, the DFG noted a number of <br /> deficiencies regarding the discussion of wildlife resources . <br /> While the RBS resolves some of our concerns, there are still a <br /> number of issues that are left unresolved. Following are our <br /> specific comments : <br /> VI-5 <br />