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<br />onS7~ <br /> <br />CHAPTER 4 . ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES <br />~x;:3::~%.<:iw.::~<'';:~:f;~~~:x:l<<;::{:9:-.'=.-::-{;;~::::;;:0~:~:::;~m:;:;$::::::;:'::;''%:.:,-:-1:<::w.:::::;:;:~:&:;:~;:::;:~~3::3;:::~:J:~':,-?,,;:::*"-:.:::.;;::-::::.;~:>>'..<::=.-t:?":=$~1m..~::::1;:::;?:~~:::..::&:t;::w..~~3:~~~:,"*~:.;::.m:::::~:;;:~ <br /> <br />River cutthroat. Other species of concern potentially affected by habitat loss include big game (elk <br />and mule deer), rap tors, and brook trout. <br /> <br />f <br /> <br />Wolverine and lynx prefer high mountain areas and suitable habitats occur in the vicinity of the <br />project area. Scattered unconfirmed sighting of wolverine have been made near the project area, but <br />no observations of lynx have been recorded. Both species are wide-ranging and may possibly occur <br />in the general area. However, the reservoir site would represent a very small proportion of their <br />range and proposed disturbance areas do not represent preferred habitats for these species. <br />Therefore, reservoir expansion is not expected to result in any negative impacts 10 wolverine or lynx <br />populations. <br /> <br />Northern goshawks nest in mature and old-growth coniferous forest. Old-growth forest habitats <br />with a relatively open understory are preferred. Nesting birds are relatively intolerant of human <br />disturbance. Recreational activities and the current lack of old-growth habitats in the vicinity of Fish <br />Creek Reservoir reduce the potential for any goshawk nesting use of the project area. No nests or <br />evidence of goshawk nesting activity (pluck sites, whitewash, or pellets) were observed in proposed <br />disturbance areas. A single observation of a northern goshawk during the 1992 field surveys <br />indicates that goshawks may occasionally use the project area for hunting. The reservoir expansion <br />may result in a slight reduction in available hunting habitat for northern goshawk, but no loss of <br />suitable nesting habitat would occur. <br /> <br />As indicated in Section 3.8, Wildlife, suitable boreal toad breeding habitat, consisting of shallow <br />water wetland areas, exist within the project area, although no boreal toads were observed during <br />the 1992 field surveys. Field review of proposed disturbance areas did not identify any suitable <br />breeding habitat within the borrow, transportation corridor, or campground sites. However, the <br />reservoir expansion would inundate potential boreal frog breeding habitat adjacent to the east end <br />of the reservoir. Suitable habitat within the inundation area consists of small, shallow pools <br />associated with wetland habitats along Granite Creek and other small springs feeding the reservoir. <br />Only a small portion of these wetlands COntains pool areas suitable for breeding. The portion of <br />Middle Fork Fish Creek to be inundated has too steep a gradient and does not support suitable <br />boreal toad breeding habitat. <br /> <br />Wood frogs prefer shallow, natural ponds, supporting extensive growth of sedges in shallow water <br />areas and lacking a permanent inlet or outlet, for breeding. Shallow ponds in upland meadow <br />habitat in the vicinity of the reservoir represent suitable breeding habitat for these species. No wood <br />frogs were located during field surveys, and no shallow pools in upland meadow areas would be <br />disturbed by reservoir expansion activities. Adverse impacts to wood frog populations are not <br />expected with reservoir expansion. <br /> <br />The Colorado River cutthroat currently does not occur within the waters of the project area, but <br />suitable habitat is present. As indicated in Section 3.8. Wildlife, dam and spillway construction <br />associated with reservoir expansion would isolate the reservoir and its feeder streams from fish <br />movement below the reservoir. As a consequence, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) <br />could consider restoring Colorado River cutthroat into Fish Creek Reservoir and its upstream <br />drainages sometime in the future. However, the CDOW considers Fish Creek Reservoir to be a low <br />priority introduction site because of relatively easy public access, high public recreational use of the <br />area, and operation of the reservoir as a municipal water supply (Sealing, 1992). <br /> <br />'7.t,W,,:>>~~....., -":::,;;::;:,,>'~"'~Y_~~':;:>>l':-.~~/~~~,,",~'<-7.~'=-"::l':'>>..<::>>:~:;':;~~~M>:<>>:::M>$;:';::-:';:;.S.;:;-=,<:OSX:;:~"<::~'X:':o:;::;;:':<<-m.: <br /> <br />September 1993 Pag' 4.27 <br />