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August 2000 CRWCD * Yampa Rice- Basin Small Res rvw Study - Phase 2 Report * Page • 23 ' Little data exists regarding habitat use by adult boreal toads after breeding. Available evidence indicates that females may disperse over greater distances and into drier habitats than the males (Loeffler, 1998). Adults can move several miles and reside in marshes, wet meadows, or forested areas (Loeffler, 1998). Recent radio re-location studies of radio-tagged (microchipped) toads by the ' Colorado Division of Wildlife indicate that male toads remain within 300 meters of breeding sites, while females can move up to 3 to 4 miles from breeding areas Qones, pers. comm., 1999). Selected upland habitats for both males and females include aspen and conifer habitats with rocky areas or ground squirrel holes where toads seek refuge in rock crevices or rodent burrows to avoid temperature extremes and desiccation ones, pers. comm. 1999). ' 4.1.3 Potential Small Reservoir Sites (Track 1 Sites) 4.1.3.1 little Bear 1 Reservoir Site (Site 41) ' General The Little Bear 1 site is located north of Craig in the Fortification Creek drainage basin, as indicated in Figure 6, Field Renrmaissm a Sites in the Loner Yxnpa Ricer Study Area. It is accessed via Colorado Highway 13 and Moffat County Road 27. The site is located along County Road 27, immediately upgradient of a winter-use parking area. The dam would be located at an elevation of approximately ' 6,600 feet, as shown in Figure 10, Little Bear 1 RewnVir Site. The property is privately owned with land use being primarily agricultural/ranching in nature. A reservoir at this site could potentially serve several downstream agricultural users on Little Bear Creek ' and Fortification Creek. At the public meeting held in Craig on June 6, 2000, several participants expressed interest in the development of this site. ' A reservoir at this site would inundate a portion of County Road 27 and would require realignment of approximately lh mile of this gravel-surfaced road. In addition, several headgates and irrigation ditches would require relocation. ' As with the other creeks in the Fortification drainage, most of the Little Bear Creek streacntlow occurs as spring snowmelt runoff. By mid- to late summer, the stream is often dry. Local agricultural users indicated that capture and storage of early season runoff would provide additional water during the typically dry late summer season. While flow data are not currently available on Little Bear Creek, flow records from Fortification Creek near Craig indicate that the overall basin yield is in the neighborhood of 8,500 acre-feet per year and 250 acre-feet per square mile. Based on overall basin yields, yield at the reservoir site is estimated at 4,950 acre-feet per year. Collection of site-specific flow data would be required if a reservoir at this site was to be developed. ' During the site visit on June 20, Little Bear Creek was flowing. The streambed in the vicinity of the Little Bear 1 site had some natural armoring, however several areas of bank erosion/undercutting were noted. Streamflow appeared clear, even though the area had experienced a severe thunderstorm ' on the previous day. Physical Characteristics /Dam Siting ' Little Bear 1 Reservoir would dam Little Bear Creek approximately 2 miles above its confluence with Fortification Creek. Based on calculations using the USGS mapping of this site, at a maximum height of approximately 70 feet, the proposed dam would inundate 39.5 acres and impound approximately ' 800 acre-feet of water. The embankment for this reservoir would have a crest length of 550 feet and require placement of approximately 270,000 cubic yards of fill. Figure 10, Little Bear 1 Rewnuir Site, indicates the approximate location and size of the potential Little Bear 1 Reservoir. Construction of a 1 Mmvwvy Watum *P.0. Box 774018 * Smvn&xrt Spriig4 Cdorado 80477 * (970) 879-6260 ' WAPPIOWFfi r7A*- OWOioOH