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<br />3.5.1.3 Fish and Wildlife <br /> <br />During the November loth, 2006 site visit the following animal species were identified. <br /> <br />Mammals observed Birds observed <br />Jackrabbit House Finch <br />Mule Deer (sign) Red Tailed Hawk <br />Cottontail rabbit Western Kingbird <br />Rocky Mountain Elk (sign) Mountain Chickadee <br />Coyote (sign) Scmb Jay <br /> Junco <br /> Mourning Dove <br /> <br />3.5.1.4 Vegetation <br /> <br />During a November loth, 2006 site visit the following plant species were identified. <br /> <br />Cliffrose Juniper sp <br />Pinyon Pine Morman Tea <br />Mountain Mahogany Yucca,app <br />Sagebmsh Buckwheat <br />Gamble oak Service berry <br />Four-winged saltbmsh Salt Cedar <br />Willow Dryland grasses <br />Non-native invasive weeds <br /> <br />3.5.2 Environmental Consequences <br /> <br />It is anticipated that the environmental consequences to Threatened and Endangered Species (Fish, Wildlife, <br />and Vegetation) and non Threatened and Endangered Fish and Wildlife and Vegetation is minimal. <br /> <br />Federally listed species (plant and animal) such as the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Bald Eagle, Mexican <br />Spotted Owl, Canada Lynx, Black Footed Ferret, Mancos Milkvetch and Mesa Verde Cactus do not occupy any <br />habitat zones in the proposed project area. No fish species are impacted due to lack of habitat in the proposed <br />project zone. Furthermore, wildlife diversity and abundance in the proposed project are low because of the lack <br />of habitat diversity and forage. <br /> <br />Diversity and abundance, although already low, will decrease temporarily during operations as a result of noise, <br />constmction activity and traffic. This may insignificantly affect the animals in the area because of existing <br />residential, agricultural as well as oil and gas activity in the area. <br /> <br />Impact to vegetation will be significant, especially to dryland grasses and shmbs within the constmction right <br />of way and CRP zones. The proposed action would damage vegetation within zones where heavy equipment <br />or dirt work occurs. Seedbeds will be disturbed during constmction. Vegetation diversity and abundance in <br />the proposed project area is already low because of the current land uses in the vicinity. Land is predominantly <br />managed for agricultural, conservation or county road right of way use. <br /> <br />Dirt disturbance within tilled areas will not impact animals or vegetation if conducted during the non-growing <br />season. Negative impacts to vegetation (farm crops) and nesting animals would occur if dirt work is conducted <br />in farmland in agricultural production during growing seasons. <br /> <br />14 <br />