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PC: 9-6-90 <br /> QX-90-1 <br /> Associates, under contract to San Joaquin County . The EIR <br /> addressed geology and soils, hydrology and water quality, <br /> biology, transportation, air quality, noise, public <br /> facilities, land use, visual resources, and archaeology. <br /> Based upon analysis of the above issues, the EIR concluded <br /> that implementation of the identified mitigation measures <br /> would reduce all the projett ' s environmental impacts to less <br /> than significant levels . <br /> Biology: <br /> The project area has been disturbed by agricultural <br /> development south of the Mokelumne River and past quarry <br /> operations north of the river; however, the area still <br /> contains a variety of plant communities and species <br /> assemblages composed of native and naturalized/introduced <br /> plants . <br /> Along the north side of the river, low-lying freshwater <br /> marshes occur adjacent to the river channel near and to the <br /> east of the proposed bridge crossing. These marsh areas <br /> appear to be a result of past quarry excavations . Wetlands <br /> are protected under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and as <br /> such require federal permits from the U. S. Army Corps of <br /> Engineers (COE) before being dredged, filled, or altered. <br /> Wetlands associated with past or present quarry operations, <br /> such as the sedimentation basins north of the Mokelumne River, <br /> are not likely subject to regulation under Section 404 (3 3 CFR <br /> 323 . 4) because these areas are the result of mining <br /> operations. However, the ultimate authority for designating <br /> Section 404 jurisdiction over wetlands rests with the COE. <br /> No state or federally listed endangered, threatened, or <br /> candidate wildlife species were observed during the EIR <br /> consultant' s field surveys . However, the project site is <br /> located within the range of four sensitive species: <br /> California tiger salamander, valley elderberry longhorn <br /> beetle, Black-shouldered kite, and Swainson ' s hawk. <br /> Potentially significant impacts that would result from the <br /> proposed project are primarily associated with the removal of <br /> riparian woodland and mature oak trees that would occur as a <br /> result of the proposed bridge crossing relocation. <br /> Modifications to the Mokelumne River channel and associated <br /> riparian corridor (as a result of this bridge crossing) and <br /> the adjacent marsh area (as a result of construction of the <br /> proposed access road) would significantly alter existing fish <br /> -34- <br />