Swainson's Hawks depend
on foraging lands to feed themselves and their young.
Photo credit: Robert Sewell
Swainson's Hawks depend
on foraging lands to feed themselves and their young.
Photo credit: Robert Sewell
How to Stop Cheating on Mitigation for Swainson's Hawk Foraging Habitat Impacts
Since inception, Friends of the Swainson's Hawk has evaluated and commented upon mitigation programs - starting with the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan draft in 1995. We've been watch dogs in the development process to ensure that developers and local government don't cheat on what is owed to the Swainson's Hawk when its foraging habitat is paved over. When a legal principle is violated, we have gone to court.
Latest research results: our evaluation of Swainson's Hawk mitigation programs in South Sacramento County, including Elk Grove and Sacramento County.
One of our recent findings was a violation of California Environmental Quality Act by the County of Sacramento's Department of Environmental Review and Assessment in the Florin-Vineyard Gap EIR. Thanks to many generous donors for helping pay the costs of this lawsuit.