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IMPACT Terrestrial Biological Resources—Impacts on Giant Garter Snake.Implementation of the proposed project <br /> 4.5-4 would disturb irrigation/drainage canals and ditches that provide suitable aquatic and upland habitat for giant <br /> garter snake and could result in direct take of individuals. This impact would be potentially significant. <br /> Construction of the pipelines for the wastewater collection system and treated effluent distribution system would <br /> result in disturbance of suitable aquatic and upland habitat for giant garter snake. Construction activities also have <br /> the potential to result in direct take of individuals. The French Camp Outfall Canal and associated <br /> irrigation/drainage canals and ditches in the western portion of the project area provide suitable aquatic habitat for <br /> giant garter snake, although suitability may vary depending on maintenance and hydrology at any given time. The <br /> banks of these canals and adjacent upland may provide suitable habitat during the inactive season(October– <br /> April), depending on vegetation characteristics and maintenance regimes. Construction activities in these areas <br /> could result in direct take of giant garter snake,particularly during the snake's inactive season,when individuals <br /> are in upland burrow sites.No suitable habitat for giant garter snake was observed at the WQCF site. Because <br /> proposed project construction would disturb suitable habitat for giant garter snake, implementation of the <br /> proposed project could result in direct take of individuals and this would be a potentially significant impact. <br /> IMPACT Terrestrial Biological Resources—Impacts on Northwestern Pond Turtle. Implementation of the proposed <br /> 4.5-5 project is unlikely to result in loss or disturbance of nesting northwestern pond turtle because suitable nesting <br /> habitat for this species is not present within the project area. This impact would be less than significant. <br /> The proposed project is not likely to result in disturbance of nesting northwestern pond turtle because no suitable <br /> nesting habitat is present within the project area. However,the French Camp Outlet Canal has the potential to <br /> support surface water(i.e., freshwater marsh habitat)of sufficient depths to provide suitable habitat for this <br /> species. The proposed project would avoid fill and impacts on freshwater marsh habitat within the French Camp <br /> Outlet Canal by implementing trenchless construction methods such as horizontal directional drilling(HDD) or <br /> bore-and-jack to bore under the French Camp Outlet Canal. Because suitable nesting habitat for northwestern <br /> pond turtle is not present within the project area, and project construction would avoid the loss or disturbance of <br /> potential nesting northwestern pond turtle habitat through proposed construction practices,this impact would be <br /> less than significant. <br /> IMPACT Terrestrial Biological Resources—Impacts on Raptors.Implementation of the proposed project would result <br /> 4.5-6 in the disturbance and/or loss of active nests and foraging habitat for special-status and common raptors. This <br /> impact would be potentially significant. <br /> Construction of proposed WQCF site improvements and pipelines for the wastewater collection system, effluent <br /> outfall, and recycled-water distribution system would result in disturbance of suitable nesting and/or foraging <br /> habitat for Swainson's hawk,burrowing owl, and other special-status and common raptors. It also would result in <br /> loss of suitable foraging habitat and could result in loss of active nests. The project area provides suitable nesting <br /> and foraging habitat for Swainson's hawks and other special-status species raptors,including northern harrier, <br /> white-tailed kite, and burrowing owl. It also provides foraging habitat for raptors that do not nest in the vicinity of <br /> the project area. Swainson's hawk and other tree-nesting species could nest in trees situated along the French <br /> Camp Outlet Canal and other patches of nonorchard trees in the project area.Northern harriers and burrowing <br /> owls could nest in agricultural field,ruderal, and fallow areas in the project area. Construction activities could <br /> result in disturbance of raptors nesting nearby,potentially resulting in nest abandonment and loss of active nests. <br /> If burrowing owls are present along proposed pipeline routes, occupied burrows could be directly destroyed by <br /> project construction. The proposed project also involves construction of WQCF site improvements that would <br /> permanently remove approximately 14 acres of suitable raptor foraging habitat. In addition,pipeline construction <br /> would temporarily disturb approximately 7.5 acres of suitable raptor foraging habitat. Although they are not <br /> considered special-status species, common raptors such as red-shouldered hawk,red-tailed hawk, and great <br /> horned owl are protected under California Fish and Game Code Section 3503.5 and could also be affected by <br /> project construction. The permanent loss of approximately 14 acres of suitable raptor foraging habitat and the <br /> Manteca WQCF and Collection System Master Plans EIR EDAW <br /> City of Manteca 4.5-29 Terrestrial Biological Resources <br />