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Most of theing area is potentiall ime farmland. <br /> Agriculture conti es to constitute a major p tion of San <br /> Joaquin County's economic base. Approximately 696 ,160 acres were <br /> in agricultural production in the county during 1984. <br /> Agriculture constitutes the predominant land use in the planning <br /> area with fruit and nut orchards , field crops, vegetable, seed, <br /> and other row crops , vineyards and pasture, the main uses. <br /> One principal factor limiting agriculture in the planning <br /> area is the availability of productive soils. As urbanization <br /> encroaches on farm lands , productive soils are permanently <br /> removed from agricultural use. <br /> The value of agricultural habitat to wildlife depends on <br /> several factors, such as the type of crop, irrigation systems, <br /> pesticide use, farming practices , and the surrounding land use. <br /> Suitable wintering habitat is a critical limiting factor for many <br /> Pacific Flyway waterfowl populations. The Central Valley is <br /> habitat for roughly 60 percent of all Pacific Flyway waterfowl <br /> and for 91 percent of all waterfowl wintering in California. <br /> Unflooded fields and pastureland provide habitat for the <br /> three most important game birds in.the Delta: the native <br /> California quail , -the mourning dove, and the introduced <br /> ring-necked pheasant. The abundance of these birds on <br /> agricultural lands is increased by the proximity to riparian <br /> vegetation. <br /> Orchards and vineyards are used by songbirds as feeding and <br /> nesting habitat, particularly during the spring and summer. <br /> Also, birds of prey hunt over agricultural lands. Common birds <br /> of prey found in the project area are black-shouldered kites , <br /> red-tailed hawks , and American kestrels. <br /> On June 6 , 1984, the Environmental Protection agency issued <br /> a Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) on the now-constructed <br /> Phase I expansion of the City of Manteca wastewater treatment <br /> plant. This plant was designed to serve a total Manteca service <br /> area population of 46 ,268 in year 1994 plus 7 ,070 people in <br /> Lathrop in year 2004. The treatment plant, as presently <br /> configured, can provide secondary level treatment for a flow of <br /> 5. 45 million gallons per day (mgd) average dry weather flow <br /> (ADWF) . The present sewage flow consists of a total ADWF of 4.57 <br /> mgd, of which about 0. 29 mgd is from industries. The industrial <br /> flow has periodically risen to 0. 55 mgd due to the seasonal <br /> nature of the food processing industry. Most of the effluent is <br /> disposed to the land. Some effluent is discharged to the San <br /> Joaquin River in the winter when flows are high. <br /> The City of Manteca asked the Environmental Protection <br /> Agency (EPA) to approve their plan to construct the Phase II <br /> expansion (1.5 mgd ADWF) of the treatment plant prior to 1994. <br /> The expansion would be done under an amendment to the grant, <br /> though no increase in Federal or State funds would be involved. <br /> Population growth in Manteca has occurred at a greater rate than <br /> originally anticipated in the facilities plan which was written <br /> in 1981. <br /> 3 <br />