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III. Environmental Setting, Impacts, and Mitigations F. Vegetation and Wildlife and California Endangered Species Acts(FESA and CESA),and the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA). Please refer to Appendix D for further explanation of the legal protection and classification of special status species. Wetlands Protection Section 404 of the Federal Clean Water Act regulates discharge of fill material into"waters of the United States," which include wetlands and defined drainages. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers(Corps)is responsible for permitting any project which proposes fill. Please refer to Appendix D for further explanation of the Section 404 permitting process. Appendix D also describes the California Department of Fish and Game's(CDFG)Section 1600 et. seq. jurisdiction over drainages. Local Protection of Biological Resources The San Joaquin County General Plan 2010(San Joaquin County, 1992)has established County-wide objectives to protect and improve the County's vegetation,fish,and wildlife resources and to provide open space for nature study,protection of endangered species, and preservation of wildlife habitat. Policies to achieve these goals include requiring protection of resources of significant biological value(i.e.,wetlands,riparian areas,special status species and their habitats,vernal pools,oak groves, and heritage trees)so as to achieve "no net loss"; preservation of connections between habitats;establishment of buffers adjacent to waterways; establishment of ecological preserves; requiring use of native vegetation in association with development; and requiring monitoring and maintenance of mitigation lands. Goal 1 of the Open Space portion of Section 5 of the City of Stockton General Plan Policy Document(1990)requires that open space areas be preserved and enhanced for the preservation of plant life,fish and wildlife habitat, and ecologically sensitive areas. Policies to achieve this goal include protection and preservation of significant wildlife and natural vegetation areas,and valley oak trees. Additionally,the City of Stockton's Heritage Tree Ordinance No.007-90 affords protection to native oaks measuring 50 inches or greater in circumference(approximately 16 inches or greater in diameter) at a height of 24 inches above grade. A permit must be obtained from the City of Stockton Parks and Recreation Department,Landscape Architect,for removal of any tree within the City meeting the established criteria,and replacement trees must be planted per City requirements(Machado, 1993). III.F.2