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Soil Investigations for Data Collection in the Delta Initial Study/Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration xiii badger dens identified in the project area shall be monitored by the qualified biologist to determine current use. b. American badger dens determined by the qualified biologist to be occupied during the breeding season (February 15 through June 30) shall be flagged, and ground disturbing activities avoided, within 100 feet of the den to protect adults and nursing young. Buffers may be modified by the qualified biologist, depending on the applicable site conditions and characteristics of the den, and shall not be removed until the qualified biologist has determined that the den is no longer in use. MM BIO-17: San Joaquin Kit Fox To minimize and avoid the potential impacts to San Joaquin kit fox that may occur within the Study Area, the following general measures will be implemented: a. Prior to any ground disturbance within an Impact Area, a qualified biologist will conduct a pre-activity survey in areas identified in the pre-activity surveys as supporting suitable breeding or denning habitat for San Joaquin kit fox. The surveys will establish the presence or absence of San Joaquin kit foxes and/or suitable dens and evaluate use by kit foxes in accordance with USFWS survey guidelines (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1999). b. Pre-activity surveys will be conducted within 30 days prior to ground disturbance. The biologist will survey the proposed Impact Area and a 250-foot buffer from the perimeter of the proposed Impact Area to identify San Joaquin kit foxes and/or suitable dens. Adjacent parcels under different land ownership, for which DWR not have access, will not be surveyed. The status of all dens will be determined and mapped. Written results of pre-activity surveys will be submitted to USFWS within 5 working days after survey completion and before the start of ground disturbance. c. If San Joaquin kit foxes and/or suitable dens are identified within those areas included in the pre-activity survey area, the measures described below will be implemented. i. If a San Joaquin kit fox den is discovered in the Impact Area, the Impact Area will be moved at a minimum to meet the appropriate buffer distances as described below in subsection (c)(ii). ii. If dens are identified in the survey area but outside the Impact Area, exclusion zones around each den entrance or cluster of entrances will be demarcated. The configuration of exclusion zones should be circular, with a radius measured outward from the den entrance(s). No covered activities will occur within the exclusion zones. Exclusion zone radii for potential or atypical dens will be at least 50 feet and will be demarcated with four to five flagged stakes. Exclusion zone radii for known dens will be at least 100 feet and will be demarcated with staking and flagging that encircles each den or cluster of dens but does not prevent access to the den by kit fox.