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Dowsign Envelope ID:687BAO$7-B664-41EB-g612-293BOUA69DBO PA-2600014(C) March 24,2026 Page 8 considered potentially significant unless adequate mitigation is incorporated. Projects with potential impacts to SWHA are encouraged to avoid take or to obtain an ITP from CDFW Significant loss of SWHA foraging habitat has occurred in Yolo,Sacramento,and San Joaquin counties due to residential development,economic and resource availability factors,and conversion of riparian and woodland habitat to agriculture and unsuitable urban environments(CDFW 2016). Suitable foraging habitat is necessary to provide an adequate energy source for breeding SWHA adults, including support of nestlings and fledglings. If prey resources are not sufficient,or if adults must hunt long distances from the nest site,the energetics of the foraging effort may result in reduced nestling health and survival with an increased likelihood of disease and/or starvation. In more extreme cases, the breeding pair,in an effort to assure their own existence,may even abandon the nest and young (Woodbridge 1985). Routine animal grazing activities,increases in human presence,and the permanent impacts associated with solar panel installation,will permanently reduce the amount of SWHA foraging habitat. SWHA generally searches for prey by soaring above fields and solar panels reduce their ability to see and catch their prey. CDFW recommends that the environmental document includes the following SWHA measure prior to initiation of construction activities: SWHA Protocol Survey. in each year in which Project activities occur, a Qualified Biologist shall conduct a SWHA survey within a minimum 0.5-mile radius around the Project Area. The Qualified Biologist shall conduct the appropriate technique in each of the five periods below in accordance with the methodology described in the Recommended Timing and Methodology for Swainson's Hawk Nesting Surveys in California's Central Valley (Swainson's Hawk Tech.Advis.Comm.,5/2000): D January to March 20—One Survey,All Day o March 20 to April 5—Three Surveys,Sunrise to 10:00/16:00 to Sunset o April 5 to April 20—Three Surveys,Sunrise to 12:00/16:30 to Sunset D April 21 to June 10—Monitoring D June 10 to July 30—Three Surveys,Sunrise to 12:00/16:00 to Sunset Results of each survey period shall be submitted to San Joaquin County.The Project Proponent shall map all existing or potential nesting or foraging sites and provide these maps to San Joaquin County. Nesting sites, including both currently occupied nesting sites and sites known to have been occupied within the last five years,shall be noted on plans that are submitted. Nests found within 0.50 miles should establish a 1300-foot no-disturbance buffer and be monitored either continuously or periodically depending on the construction or