ARCHIVED REPORTS_1993_1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Rodenticide or herbicide use would be restricted in project areas where kit foxes are known to be present. I • Any mortalities or injuries to kit foxes that occurred as a result of project -related actions would be reported immediately to USFWS and DFG. • All onsite construction personnel would be required to attend a workshop on special - status protection needs and endangered species laws. 0 All the above provisions would be included in construction contracts, along with a requirement that construction crew members read and agree to adhere to the contracts. Impact 4.2-5 Cumulative Loss of Swainson's Hawk Foraging Habitat Implementation of the proposed project would eliminate approximately 40 acres of suitable Swainson's hawk foraging habitat. The loss of 40 acres of foraging habitat would not decrease the foraging quality for Swainson's hawk pairs in the region but would contribute to the cumulative loss of foraging habitat for Swainson's hawks. The cumulative loss of foraging habitat would be considered a regionally significant impact. Many ongoing large and small development projects in San Joaquin County have accelerated the conversion of farmlands and rangelands to urban uses. These losses affect a large segment of the statewide Swainson's hawk population and have prompted state and federal agencies, local governments, landowners, and developers to develop measures to successfully mitigate losses of habitat and conservation strategies to maintain and enhance population levels of Swainson's hawks in the Central Valley (California Department of Fish and Game 1990, Jones & Stokes Associates 1990). Mitigation 4.2-5 Provide hah-itat GoMpenga-tion for Swai on's haiNks. To red t of losr. of Sw;;ipsnn's UGG the;—P-G hawk fOragiAg I;abi4at W -2 lQ9_9_-th2_A-Q_igRifiGaRt I9V964hQ-W j I I I � A t 1.4 0- 11 -1 d 10 Q- Ir Q_ q w i r 9 d t -9 fGIIQW MitigatiOR qUid9liAGS F9GQMM9Ad9GI by DFG (CalifgFRia D9PaFtM9At Of Fish 2nd Game 4 990) thW iPG11_1d_Q_ thQ P61FGhagg Of MitiqatiQA 12ACIS at AG 1992 th2p 2 4;4 ratig ., 1 aGFG FOPIaGOPWAt for eac-h I ar_zra loss of habitat), In car!yin_q out the operations of the project, the applicant shall take no actions which violate the provisions of the California Endangered Species Act or any other laws or regulations pertaining to the protection of the Swainson's hawk. Compliance with said laws shall be the sole responsibility of the applicant, and the applicant shall agree to indemnify, defend, and hold the County harmless from and against any claim or action by affected State agencies as to the proiect's compliance with said laws. Impact Implementation of the proposed project would eliminate approximately 40 acres of potential but unoccupied burrowing owl foraging and nesting habitat. If burrowing owls move onto the project site they could be killed during construction. The loss of foraging and nesting habitat is considered a less -than -significant impact because the amount of habitat lost is small and unoccupied and annual grasslands are abundant both locally and regionally. Disturbance or mortality of burrowing owls is considered significant because burrowing owls are declining and the owls are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This impact would be reduced to a less -than -significant level with implementation of Mitigation 4.2-6. 1 ER -93-1 - 44 - (9-27-93) 1