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I. INTR(]DUCTION The, p~rpnse of this biological evaluation is to analyze and determine tlae potential impacts of the Vail Summer' Construction projects, including the replacement of cl~air~ lift 15, and the installation and operations of a snowmaking well adjacent to the Skyline Express Lift Chair lift 37} frsh species listed on the Regional Forester's sensitive species list far Region 2 of the USDA. Forest Service ~FSM 2670.31-2670 32}~ Forest Service policy requires that a review of programs and activities, through a biological evaluation BE , be conducted to determine their' potential effect on threatened and endangered ~ } species, species proposed for listing, and sensitive species ~FSM 2670,3}, Under the ESA, a Biological Assessment SBA.} must be prepared for' federal actions that are "mayor constz~uction activities" to evaluate the potential effects of the proposal on listed or' proposed species. The contents of the BA are at the discretion of the federal agency, and will depend. on the nature of the federal action X50 CFR 40Z,,,12~f}}. A BE may be used to satisfy the ESA r'equir~ement to pr'epar~e a Biological Assessment. Preparation of a Biological Evaluation as park of the NEPA r'ocess ensures that TEPS species receive full consideration in the decision-making process. The p effects of these proj ects on aquatic species listed under' the federal Endangered Species Act are addressed in a separate document Healy 2007}. II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL The proposed action is on the Vail Mountain Ski Area, which is located in Eagle County, Colorado Section 2,7 of Township 5S, Range 80W}. Vail Ski area is located within the Colorado River' Basin, in the Upper' Eagle River watershed ~I~UC 140100x3}. Clair 15, Little Eagle, is located on the east side of Eagles Nest. The Tea Cup Bowl Snowmaking Well will be located on the north side of Two Elk Creek (tributary to tlae Eagle River}, near Chair 37, Skyline Express. The Chair 15 Replacement involves upgrading the chair fr~orn a double to a triple by reusing equipment from Chair 14, which is also scheduled to be upgraded this summer. The top terrnrnal of Chair' 15 would shift slightly to the east and the bottom terminal would move east 140 feet and downhill 150 feet. Minor tree clearing and grading would be required. The Tea Cup Snowmaking Well consists of a low capacity well pumping at a maximum of 15 gallons of water per minute} that is proposed for a location to the northwest of the bottom terminal of Chair 37 Skyline Express Lift}. Tea Cup Bowl has a southern aspect which is problematic for establishing a base of snow in the early ski season, which would also remain until the end of the season. This area provides a critical skier-access point for' Blue Sky Basin. Tlae well would provide a limited snowmaking capacity for the bottom of Chairs 36, 37, the Tea Cup Bridge and the bottom of Tea Cup Bowl, Total snow coverage that will be permitted is approhi~T~ately ' -acre of area covered with sno~~j up to 1 S inches deep. The well would require the use of up to 1.0 acre-foot of water per snowmaking season, and would result in a maximum reduction in stream flow to Two Elk Creek of less than 1 % ~0, 04 cubic feet per second} of the minimum instream flow right held by the Colorado Water Conservation Board ~4 cfs}. Snowmaking would be restricted to periods before January 1st and after March lst every winter. The well would pump a maximum of 12 hours per' day.