C153664 Feasibility Study

• Contract/PO #: C153664
• Contractor Name: Fort Lupton, City of & Fort Lupton Water Utility Enterprise
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 1
• County: Weld
• Bill Number: HB 93-1273
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

2. Wildlife and Endangered Species
The Fort Lupton master planning area can be divided into various ecosystems,
including plains grassland, plains streamside, ponds, marshes or wetlands, urban, and
agricultural land, The types of wildlife habitats include open land, wetland, and
rangeland habitats. The open land habitat consists of cropland, pasture, meadows,
and areas overgrown with grasses, herbs, shrubs, and vines, The wetland habitat
consists of marshy, swampy, or shallow water areas where water-tolerant plants grow.
The rangeland habitat consists of wild herbaceous plants and shrubs
Small areas of wetland vegetation are located in the master planning area, as
shown on Figure 2-3, and significant areas of wetland vegetation are located along
the South Platte River. Trees typical of wetlands are cottonwood and box elder.
Numerous herbs and shrubs such as reeds, rushes, shrubs, and sedges are often found
in wetland habitats,
Trees that might typically be found in the planning area, especially along creeks
and ditches, include box elder, cottonwood, and Russian olive. Shrubs that might be
typical in the planning area are hawthorn and willow, Several species of grasses
would also typically be found in the planning area.
There are no federally listed plants that are endangered and threatened in the
planning area according the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), The
Colorado butterfly weed (Caura neomexicana, spp. coloradensis) is the only plant that
is a candidate for official listing as endangered and threatened that might be found
in the planning area.
Due to the proximity of water and the terrestrial habitats described previously,
a variety of birds can be found. Birds that might be typical in the planning area are
migratory waterfowl, swallows, magpies, robins, and other birds typical of a plains,
wetland, or shore environment.
According to the USFWS, the endangered and threatened bird species are all
migratory birds that might be passing through the planning area, The endangered
and threatened bird species are peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), bald eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus), whooping crane (Crus americana), and Eskimo curlew
(Numenius borealis). The USFWS also states that burrowing owls (Speotyto
cunicularia) are a protected migratory species and could be in the planning area,

25325,100; 12/07194

2-3