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Page 79 habitat,or breeding grounds(i.e., Swainson's hawk breeding or foraging habitat). Special status species include those that are fisted by the State or Federal governments as rare,endangered or threatened; are proposed for listing or are candidates for listing;are considered Species of Special Concern by the California Department of Fish and Game;or on lists IA, 1B,or 2 of the California Native Plant Society's Inventory(Skinner and Pavlik, 1994). A project also would be considered to have a significant impact if it would result in a substantial loss of important plant or animal species(i.e., native oak trees);would cause a change in species composition, abundance or diversity beyond that of normal variability,;or would directly or indirectly result in the measurable degradation of sensitive habitats(i.e., wetlands). Impacts to a particular biological feature would also be considered significant if the resource is subject to the permit requirements under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act or provides valuable habitat for a special status plant or animal species. Impacts are generally considered not significant if the habitats and species affected are common and widespread in the region and the State. Local Plans and Policies The CEQA Guideline suggest that a project could a significant impact on the environment it would conflict with provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan,Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local,regional,or state habitat conservation plan,or with any local policies or ordinances protection biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance. Relevant plans and policies include: • San Joaquin County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation and Open Space Plan • County of San Joaquin General Plan 2010 • County of San Joaquin Natural Resources Regulations-Trees (Development Title Subsection 9-1505) Impacts Originally Identtifed in the 1994 EIR(updated as of 1999 analysis) Impact F.1.Implementation of the proposed project would fill and relocate approximately 4.5 acres of the North Branch of the South Fork of Little Johns Creek including 2.895 acres of Corps- verified jurisdictional wetlands within the 4.5-acre channel. As part of the proposed project,a reach of the North Branch of the South Fork of Little Johns Creek would be relocated along the Northern and western boundaries of the existing landfill. The creek, associated wetlands and upland habitat within the banks of the channel occupy approximately 4.5 acres, according to the 1994 EIR,which relied on an underestimation of the creek length (6,500 linear feet versus actual length of 7,600 linear feet). Within this the project reach,the Corps has determined there are 2.895 acres of jurisdictional waters of the U.S.,including 0.859 acre of jurisdiction wetlands,which would be filled as a result of the project. This fill was authorized by the Corps under Individual Permit No. 199400974 on May 12, 1997,with certain terms and conditions,including adherence to the Wetland Mitigation and Monitoring Plan for the Austin Road Landfill Expansion (Jones and Stokes, 1996). The relocation and restoration of aquatic,riparian and wetland habitats is described in the plan,which was approved by the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers. The plan describes excavation of a new channel with a 200-foot wide flood plain,which is substantially larger than what was described in the 1994 EIR(45-foot wide channel with 15-foot wide floodplain easements on either side). The new channel will be allowed to meander within the floodplain,creating approximately 7,800 linear feet of channel. It will tie into the existing channel on the western boundary of the landfill site. An additional 6.5 acres adjacent to the channel on the eastern portion of the site will be retained as a wildlife preserve/floodplain easement. GRASSE7T1 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING 1.1 L