7281 ‎(2)‎

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7281
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Environmental Assessment, November 1987.
• USFW Year: 1987.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

CHAPTER III AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
However, with the exception of the avian and fish species, and the Uinta Basin
hookless cactus, these species are associated with upland habitat only and
would not occur in close association with the major waterways of the Upper
Basin. None of the identified components of the Proposed Action or the "No
Action" alternative are likely to involve disturbance of upland areas.
Therefore, no impacts are likely to the black-footed ferret, Utah prairie dog,
clay-loving wild-buckwheat, Jones cycladenia, Knowlton's hedgehog cactus, Last
Chance townsendia, Maguire daisy, Mancos milk-vetch, Mesa-verde cactus,
spineless hedgehog cactus, Wright fishhook cactus, Heliotrope milk-vetch, San
Rafael cactus, spreading wild-buckwheat, and toad-flax cress from either
alternative.
Impacts to the three listed fish species (Colorado squawfish, humpback chub,
and bonytail chub) are discussed in Section IV.B, "Rare and Endangered
Fishes." The following listed species are closely associated with riverine
areas and require further discussion regarding the potential for impact from
the Proposed Action and the "No Action" alternative: Uinta Basin hookless
cactus, Kendall Warm Springs dace, whooping crane, peregrine falcon, and bald
eagle.
Uinta Basin hookless cactus. The Uinta Basin hookless cactus occurs in
eastern Utah and western Colorado. It currently consists of five populations
located along the Green River and its tributaries in Utah, and three
populations along the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers in Colorado. The plant
occurs at an elevational range of 1,400 to 2,100 meters (4,600 to 6,900 feet)
on stony or cobbly, old, alluvial terraces of the Colorado Plateau. The
species is not found within the flood plain proper and it is not known to be
associated with or be dependent upon any specific characteristics of the river
system other than substrate.
Kendall Warm Springs dace. The Kendall Warm Springs dace is restricted to the
Kendall Warm Springs area and a short stream segment 300 meters (984 feet)
long in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming. The southwest
edge of its habitat is a travertine embankment, which appears to represent an
effective barrier isolating the dace from the remainder of the Green River
basin (Service 1982).
Whooping crane. The Grays Lake flock of whooping cranes migrates each year to
' wintering grounds in New Mexico (Drewien, 1986). The migrational route of
this population involves northeastern Utah, southwestern Wyoming, western and
southcentral Colorado, and western and central New Mexico. Individuals of
this population may occur within the Upper Basin during the spring and fall as
migrants. In addition, a few have begun summering within the Green River
Basin in southwestern Wyoming above Flaming Gorge Reservoir and northeastern
Utah. Most sightings of whoopers within the Upper Basin involve agricultural
land and nonriverine wetlands, and feeding areas primarily involve corn,
alfalfa, and barley fields. Some sightings have occurred at Ouray National
Wildlife Refuge.
Peregrine falcon. Peregrine falcon habitat may be divided into nesting sites,
hunting sites, and migrational and wintering areas (Service 1984). Nesting
sites are generally below 2,900 meters (9,500 feet) and are characterized by a
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