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MOUNTAIN HOUSE PROPOSED AUrAMONT HE€Gtrrs TENTATIVE MAP 4. ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST 4.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES boundary. The elevation of the upstream end of the Swale at the western boundary of the site is 162 feet. This swale was zoned Open Space/Resource Conservation in the MHMP and Specific Plan III (EDAW, 2005a, Figure 3-2 and Table 3-1). Satellite photographs indicate that portions of the natural Swale have been paralleled with an excavated drainage ditch. With the exception of'the drainage swale, the vegetation is ruderal (i.e., weedy) grassland, primarily wild oat. The drainage swale is densely vegetated with willow-dominated riparian scrub habitat(EIP Associates, 2006a). The drainage Swale contains 103 willow trees (EIP Associates, 2006b)_ SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS IDENTIFIED IN 2005 SPIIIEIR The SPIIIEIR identifies biological resource impacts associated with development of Specific Plan 111, of which the proposed project is a part(EDAW, 2005b). Impacts concerning conversion of habitat for common plant and animal species; conversion of special-status amphibian and reptile habitat; conversion of Swainson's hawk habitat, loss of active nests and removal of nest trees; loss of foraging habitat for other special-status birds; and tree removal were found to be less than significant. The following impacts were identified as potentially significant or significant: a Impact 4.10-2: Biological Resources—Conversion of Habitat for Special-Status Plants. [Development of Specific Plan III] would result in conversion of habitat that could support special-status plant species. The MHMP and MHMP Mitigation Monitoring Plan do not identify policies or mitigation for potential impacts to the special-status plant species that could occur at the [Specific Plan II1] site and off-site improvement areas. Therefore, a significant impact could occur. Impact 4.90.5: Biological Resources—Conversion of Burrowing Owl Foraging Habitat and Potential Destruction of Active Burrows. [Development of Specific Plan III] would result in conversion of burrowing owl foraging habitat and could result in destruction of occupied burrows. Implementation of measures presented in Section 7.3.5 of the MHMP would compensate for loss of burrowing owl foraging habitat and avoid loss of active nest burrows_ It would not, however, avoid destruction of potential occupied burrows during the non-nesting season. A significant impact would occur. Impact 4.10-6: Biological Resources—Conversion of Common Nesting Raptor Habitat and Possible Loss of Active Nests. [Development of Specific Plan 111] would convert suitable foraging habitat and could result in loss of active nests of white-tailed kite, northern harrier, and other common raptor species. Implementation of measures presented in Section 7.3.5 of the MHMP would compensate for loss of foraging habitat and would avoid loss of active nests in trees more than 30 feet tall, but would not apply to nests in smaller trees, low vegetation, or on the ground. A significant impact could occur. Impact 4.10-7: Biological Resources—Conversion of Other Special-Status Nesting Bird Habitat and possible Loss of Active Nests. [Development of Specific Pian 111] would convert suitable foraging habitat and could result in loss of active nests of loggerhead shrike, California horned lark, and tri-colored blackbird. Loss of foraging habitat would be compensated through implementation of the MHMP. However, the MHMP 4-17