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LFR Levine-Fricke <br /> ■ Existing grassy areas will be avoided to the fullest extent possible. In the event <br /> that a vehicle must travel off road to excavate existing burn areas, a qualified <br /> biologist will visually examine off road areas to ascertain the best route to burn <br /> areas. Once a route is determined, vehicles will remain on route and/or within <br /> excavated areas. <br /> ■ Occupied nests will be demarcated with an appropriate buffer zone by a <br /> qualified biologist and avoided completely until is has been determined by a <br /> qualified biologist that chicks have fledged and adults no longer occupy the nest <br /> (i.e. second brood). <br /> • Grasshopper sparrow. The grasshopper sparrow(Ammodramus savannarum; GS) <br /> is a federal Species of Concern and also protected under the MBTA. GS is an <br /> uncommon summer resident of California. It winters rarely but regularly in <br /> California(CDFG 2003). GS prefer dry, dense grasslands, especially with a variety <br /> of grasses and tall forbs and scattered shrubs for perches. GS search for food on the <br /> ground; the diet of the GS mainly consists of insects. <br /> GS breed from early April to mid-July, with a peak in May and June. GS build <br /> nests of grasses and forbs in a slight depression in the ground, hidden at the base of <br /> an overhanging clump of grasses or forbs. GS are active during the day. <br /> Protection Measures <br /> Document review indicates that the project site is within range of the GS. Based on <br /> observations, it appears that the site could provide suitable habitat for the GS. The <br /> following measures to avoid impact to GS will be incorporated into the project <br /> because there is a moderate to high potential for GS to occur in the project site <br /> vicinity: <br /> ■ Vehicles moving around the project site, including trucks and excavators, will <br /> remain to the fullest extent possible on existing access roads. Several roads <br /> exist at the site which area already compacted and do not contain vegetation that <br /> would potentially attract ground nesting birds. <br /> ■ Existing grassy areas will be avoided to the fullest extent possible. In the event <br /> that a vehicle must travel off road to excavate existing burn areas, a qualified <br /> biologist will visually examine off road areas to ascertain the best route to burn <br /> areas. Once a route is determined, vehicles will remain on route and/or within <br /> excavated areas. <br /> ■ Occupied nests will be demarcated with an appropriate buffer zone by a <br /> qualified biologist and avoided completely until is has been determined by a <br /> qualified biologist that chicks have fledged and adults no longer occupy the nest <br /> (i.e., second brood). <br /> Page 32 Final_RAP_Tracy_9.18.03(final).doc <br />