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species. The projected cost of implementing the measures in this draft plan pertaining to <br />Colorado is $1.3 million. <br />Mountain Plover: {Projected cost to the State of Colorado: $1 million) During the summer <br />breeding period, this migratory bird species occupies habitats in South Park and the eastern high <br />plains, principally in Colorado. It migrates to the southwestern United States and Mexico to <br />spend winters. Once abundant, the mountain plover has experienced population significant <br />population declines for the past thirty years. A private organization has petitioned the Service to <br />list the species, and the USFWS has determined that listing is warranted but precluded by higher <br />resource management priorities. A federal listing could effect many tilling and grazing practices <br />throughout the eastern plains, though some grazing regimes may be compatible with the plover's <br />needs, since it appears to prefer extremely short grass environments. While data collection has <br />been ongoing for years, only very general plans exist to conserve this species. Additional <br />planning to conserve key areas and to develop voluntary best management practices for private <br />lands is projected to cost $500,000. The State of Colorado's share for implementation of the <br />resulting plan is presently unknown, although it could be over $1 million. Substantial additional <br />funding could be obtained from federal farm assistance and habitat protection programs. <br />Rio Grande Sucker: {Projected cost to the state of Colorado $300,000) This species occurs in <br />the Rio Grande basin and has declined significantly due to competition from an introduced non- <br />native sucker species. The Division of Wildlife has listed it under the state's threatened and <br />endangered species law. The Division also prepared a plan in 1994 detailing measures required <br />to recover the species. The costs of implementing these measures is projected to be $300,000. <br />A one time appropriation into the Species Conservation Trust Fund of $6.9 million would allow <br />the state to make substantial progress on these initiatives. <br />