Laserfiche WebLink
Ms. Kerry Sullivan <br /> January 26, 1993 <br /> Page Six <br /> Because of the presence of numerous Swainson' s hawks on <br /> or near the project site, and because the RBS did not <br /> contain an account of the extent and intensity of the <br /> search effort that was expended to locate Swainson' s <br /> B8 hawk nest, we are concerned that all of the nest sites <br /> may not have been detected. All Swainson' s hawk nest <br /> sites must be identified if they are to be protected. <br /> For this reason we recommend that the RBS contain the <br /> details of the surveys which were conducted. If all <br /> potential nesting habitat was not searched, then we <br /> recommend that the RBS be revised to include the <br /> results of a survey designed to disclose the presence <br /> of all Swainson' s hawk nest sites in all potential <br /> habitat areas . <br /> Foraging <br /> Based on the information presented in the RBS and the <br /> other sources noted above, it appears that the project <br /> site provides foraging habitat for a number of l <br /> Swainson' s hawks . The RBS states that there are 25 <br /> Swainson' s hawk nest territories within a 10 mile <br /> B9 foraging radius of the project site. We recommend that <br /> the RBS be revised to contain an evaluation of the <br /> project' s impacts on the foraging habitat of such a <br /> large number of Swainson' s hawks . This evaluation <br /> should include the potential for secondary poisoning <br /> from golf course management, direct loss of habitat <br /> through the construction of project facilities, and the <br /> loss of habitat value through human disturbance. <br /> III . Mitigation <br /> { <br /> The RBS contains mitigation measures which are either <br /> inadequate or are too vague to provide meaningful <br /> mitigation. <br /> 1 . Loss of Habitat for the Swainson' s Hawk (Impacts 4 . 13-1 <br /> and 4 . 13-2) <br /> B10 <br /> As noted in the RBS, the proposed project has already <br /> resulted in a loss of nesting habitat for the <br /> Swainson' s hawk and will result in a direct loss of <br /> 124 acres of foraging habitat, and an undisclosed <br /> amount of loss of habitat value caused by human <br /> disturbance and management practices . <br /> - Item 4 . 13-1 (e) . The development of a detailed plan <br /> for the construction of a Scottish-type golf course <br /> does not qualify as mitigation measure for the loss of <br /> VI-10 <br />