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<br />001973 <br /> <br />Within Colorado, including these metapopulations and a few smaller outlying populations, there <br />are over 50 known breeding localities - some having more than one breeding site. <br /> <br />Normally breeding takes place in late Mayor early June, but has been observed as late as mid- <br />July. Young toads are restricted in distribution and movements by available moist habitat, while <br />adults may move up to several miles to reside in marshes, meadows or forested areas. Up to <br />90% of an adult toads life is spent in upland terrestrial habitats. Hibernation takes place in <br />hibernacula which may be chambers associated with streams or spring seeps, or more commonly, <br />rodent burrows deep enough to prevent freezing and having soil moisture, high enough to prevent <br />desiccation. Adult toads monitored in Colorado hibernate at a tempe~atureQf approximately 41E <br />F (5E C). Most toads are in hibernation by early October, but association with the hibernacula <br />may begin in late August. <br /> <br />Reclamation believes that the proposed water carriage conttactswill not aff~qt this species or its <br />habitat because there are no changes in existing deplepoI1s, exrsting water l.i~:eslQr existing <br />habitats. ' <br /> <br />3.6.2.3.2 Gunnison Sage Grouse <br /> <br />Recently, it has been determined by the "ll~FWS (2000) thatth~sage grouse in the Gunnison <br />Basin, Colorado are unique and different tlf1'an'tl,19~e found elsewhere in VIost of the United <br />States. Studies confirm that most populatidj1sof"tlt~;l}ewly named'C}.llnnison sage grouse are <br />geographically and genetically isolated from'~.ach ofh~X-~~?~y:ith consequently low genetic diversity, <br />factors that can contribute to~pecies decline or-l~xtinctio1i.' . <br /> <br />. '-.c."'-'_' "'0-,", <br />,. __ :~t~h:::{:-}~.:'l-~;" <br />-- .. . -:~, c "'-';""".~-::'_ <br /> <br />Although the past abtln~ance oftli\~Agrouse specie~ in not precisely known, scientists have used <br />historical documents'anQ;'jp.terviev.isilo estimate thatGqnnison sage-grouse abundance was <br />several orders of magniiii(i~l~ger::t.hMat present aaaithat the species occurred over a much <br />larger geogral'l1!~,ar~a. Now;R9-Q(tv~vei~'tl1~~e~~%lgrouse, with their habitat preference ' <br />sagebrush.y~g6t.ati1i'r...,'.... ....restri~f~~o eightt~6lated populations in Colorado and Utah with a <br />total poglJlation of less: <,~c?,OOO:;':;~~V1e populations are small, fewer than 150 breeding birds, <br />and Sey~t~ former popui'afi'~J.?,s have:'ag5gme extirpated since 1980. <br />; _".'__"'__'~ yO'__' __". <br />0""'-"-""'- "";- :,;,,' <br /> <br />The birdsrl~~l~Nariety of hatli(l).ts thig~ghout the year but the primary vegetation component <br />necessary ar;~p.~~i~s of Arteiff~~ia sop. (sagebrush). The most important sagebrushes are <br />subspecies of Artemisia trid,~~iata (big sagebrush). Sagebrush is used for hiding and thermal <br />cover and is a major~S'?pr,~e''()f food in winter. The grouse nest in tall, dense sagebrush <br />interspersed with grass~~,s'and forbs near riparian corridors or wet meadows. General breeding <br />season: March - June:>"No areas within Mancos Project area have been identified as supporting <br />Gunnison sage-grouse populations. <br /> <br />Reclamation believes that approval of this carriage contract will have no effect upon the <br />Gunnison Sage-Grouse or upon habitat of the species. <br /> <br />3.6.2.3.4 Yellow-Billed Cuckoo <br /> <br />22 <br />