Limestone-Graveyard Creeks Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment

• Description: ARCA
• State: CO
• State: KS
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 9/1/1996
• Author: Bent Soil Conservation District, Prowers Soil Conservation District, Colorado State Soil Conservation Board, Fort Lyon Canal Company
• Title: Limestone-Graveyard Creeks Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

Most of tke''��b ve threatened, endangered, or proposed species are also
on Colorado's state list of threatened or endangered list or are a
species of special concern.
' The watershed project is not expected to have adverse impacts on any of
these threatened, endangered, proposed, or special concern species.
Many wetlands in the watershed are located along ditches, drains, and
the Arkansas River bottom. These wetlands are primarily Types 5 and 6
(Shaw and Fredine, Circular 39, 1956) ; or PFO (palustrine forested) ,
R40W (riverine, intermittent, open water) , and R20W (the Arkansas
River) (Cowardin, 1979). Irrigated fields also contain a small acreage
of wetlands caused by seeps and inefficient water management practices.
These wetlands are generally Type 1 (Circular 39) or PEM (palustrine
emergent) . The project may result in loss or reduction in size of
irrigation induced wetlands in irrigated fields. Estimated acreage of
wetlands in the watershed are:
Type I 90 Acs. (PEM)
Type III 844 Acs. (PEM)
Type V 73 Acs. (POW)
Type VI 2300 Acs. (PFO, R20W, R40W)
1 These acreages were measured off the 1975 NWI (National Wetland
Inventory, USFWS) and compared with NRCS wetland inventory maps from
1990. The USF &WS acreage estimate exceeded - the NRCS inventory acreage,
' therefore NRCS chose to agree on the higher acreage estimate. The
actual acres estimated to be affected were adjusted to account for
project participation. There will be no net losses of values of
wetlands due to project action. Mitigation actions will compensate for
wetland losses (see alternative "Effects" sections) .
Archeology and Historic
The Indians of the plains occupied the project area, but apparently
left few traces. Conversion of the short -grass plains to cropland has
destroyed most surface vestiges of their past occupancy through various
cultivation practices.
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Numerous popular game species are
found in the
area including: scaled
quail, pronghorn, white - tailed and
mule deer,
cottontail and
jackrabbits, ring- necked pheasant,
a variety of
waterfowl species and
'
numerous fish species.
'
Non -game species are widely represented
in the
watershed with a variety
of shorebirds, songbirds, mammals,
reptiles, amphibians, and fish
adding diversity to the wildlife in the area.
A complete list is
available in Appendix C that could
potentially
be in the watershed.
Wetlands
Many wetlands in the watershed are located along ditches, drains, and
the Arkansas River bottom. These wetlands are primarily Types 5 and 6
(Shaw and Fredine, Circular 39, 1956) ; or PFO (palustrine forested) ,
R40W (riverine, intermittent, open water) , and R20W (the Arkansas
River) (Cowardin, 1979). Irrigated fields also contain a small acreage
of wetlands caused by seeps and inefficient water management practices.
These wetlands are generally Type 1 (Circular 39) or PEM (palustrine
emergent) . The project may result in loss or reduction in size of
irrigation induced wetlands in irrigated fields. Estimated acreage of
wetlands in the watershed are:
Type I 90 Acs. (PEM)
Type III 844 Acs. (PEM)
Type V 73 Acs. (POW)
Type VI 2300 Acs. (PFO, R20W, R40W)
1 These acreages were measured off the 1975 NWI (National Wetland
Inventory, USFWS) and compared with NRCS wetland inventory maps from
1990. The USF &WS acreage estimate exceeded - the NRCS inventory acreage,
' therefore NRCS chose to agree on the higher acreage estimate. The
actual acres estimated to be affected were adjusted to account for
project participation. There will be no net losses of values of
wetlands due to project action. Mitigation actions will compensate for
wetland losses (see alternative "Effects" sections) .
Archeology and Historic
The Indians of the plains occupied the project area, but apparently
left few traces. Conversion of the short -grass plains to cropland has
destroyed most surface vestiges of their past occupancy through various
cultivation practices.
Ll
1 12