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I I I I I I 1 I 1 1 I' 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 003193 based on present status and potential threat to future survival or recruitment. These Federal and State lists are now made available electronically at: http://www.[6.fws.gov/co.html http://wildlife.state.co.us/T &E/list.asp http://ndis,nrel,colostate.edu/ndislrareplants/in tro.htm] http://ndis,nrel.colostate.edu/ndis/rareolants/masterlist.html Formal consultation with USFWS has been initiated by the Corps under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act with regard to effects of the CSP alternative (no. 2) upon the federally listed interior least tern and the piping plover. A Biological Assessment of these potential impacts was submitted to the Colorado Ecological Services Field Office of USFWS on July 9'\ 2001, and a draft Biological Opinion was received by the Corps from USFWS on September 17, 2001. Both documents are included in the appendices_ Other animal and plant species occurring at John Martin or in southeastern Colorado were reviewed by the Corps, along with information on available habitat, habitat preferences, and known ranges. The special status species are discussed below in Table 3 and a brief description of species status for each agency is provided. Note, that only Federal and State species listed as threatened and endangered are protected by law. Plants While there has been no extensive plant survey conducted at the John Martin Project, there are no special status plant species documented for Bent County and no special status plant species are known to occur on John Martin Project land. Proposed construction would occur primarily in upland areas of the Sandstone and Overlook Recreation Areas where special status plant species are not likely to occur. Proposed rehabilitation work and construction in the Lake Hasty Recreation Area would occur in areas that have been previously disturbed. Therefore, there would be no effect to special status plant species by any of the alternatives. Animals There are three animal species listed by USFWS and CDOW for Colorado and Bent County that have not been documented in or near the John Martin Dam and Reservoir Project area or the Arkansas River valley. These species include the following: The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), a federally and state Endangered species, is known primarily to inhabit prairie dog towns. Prairie dog towns do occur in areas both north and south of John Martin Reservoir and in areas along the Arkansas River Valley; however, no black- footed ferret or evidence thereof has been observed or reported in or near the John Martin Project. The gray wolf (Canis lupus), a Federally and State Endangered species, has not been documented on the plains of southeastern Colorado since the 1940s. 26