ARCHIVED REPORTS_1993_1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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III. Environmental Setting, Impacts, and Mitigations F. Vegetation and Wildlife Mitigation Measure F.4. Identified by this EIR (a) Landfill expansion activities on the site should be monitored by a CDFG-approved raptor biologist(funded by the project sponsor)to ensure avoidance of impacts to any nesting Swainson's hawks on the site. The biologist should survey the site annually each May- June,beginning with the 1993 breeding season,to determine if nesting on the site is occurring. The monitor should be empowered to stop all activities in the vicinity of any identified nest locations,pending consultation with the CDFG, should any impacts to nesting individuals be anticipated. Annual reports should be submitted in writing to the CDFG. This monitoring can likely be accomplished in conjunction with other bird monitoring on the site as required by the FAA(due to the site's proximity to the Stockton Metropolitan Airport). (b) Redesign proposed landfill expansion plans to preserve existing mature trees as specified in Mitigation Measure F.2(c). Enactment of this measure could preserve some of the values the site currently affords local bird species,including potential Swainson's hawk nesting use, and could eliminate the "lag time"between tree removal and the establishment of new plantings. (c) Implement Mitigation Measures F.1(b-c). Planting of native tree species in association with the CRRP could provide potential future nesting substrate for the Swainson's hawk, including after anticipated closure of the proposed landfill in 2033. This impact would be less than significant if p g cant Mitigation Measures F.4(a-c)are implemented. Impact F.5. Implementation of the proposed project would remove approximately 213.9 acres of foraging habitat for the California horned lark,mountain plover, northern loggerhead shrike,and northern harrier. (SIGNIFICANT) Northern harriers, a California Species of Special Concern(CSC),were observed foraging on the CYA portion of the proposed project site during ESA's April 1991 and March 1993 field reconnaissance. The proposed project site may also provide foraging habitat for the California horned lark(Federal Candidate 2[FC2]/CSC), mountain plover(FC2/CSC), and northern loggerhead shrike(FC2/CSC). However, nesting of these species was not observed on the site and is not expected given existing on-site conditions. The loss of foraging habitat for these special status bird species would be considered less than significant because of the regional abundance of similar habitats,the current status of the species(i.e.,the populations of these species are not in "immediate jeopardy"),and the lack of breeding habitat for these species on the subject site. Consequently,the proposed project is not expected to substantially affect these species. Additionally,implementation of mitigation measures identified for loss of Swainson's hawk foraging habitat(see Impact F.3),including proximate off-site land acquisition, III.F.29