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<br />.", ;~~.. . <br />i,.... oJ '.: <br /> <br />The decline of prairie dog numbers and distribution significantly affected ferret populations, <br />Current FWS criteria for defining potential black-footed ferret habitat consists of any active <br />black-tailed prairie dog town or complex greater than 80 acres in area, and any active white.- <br />tailed prairie dog (Cynoinys leucurus) colony or complex greater than 200 acres in area (FWS <br />1989a). <br /> <br />Black Tailed Prairie Dog <br /> <br />A close cousin of the ground squirrel, the black-tailed prairie dog is a heavy-bodied rodent <br />with a black-tipped taiL Prairie dogs have large eyes, short tails, and brownish-tan pelage. <br />Prairie dogs are social animals, living in "towns" which range from one to over 1000 acres. <br />They are diurnal animals, with the females producing one litter of 4 to 5 young per year in <br />March or ApriL Prairie dogs are native to the short-grass prairies of western North America, <br />where they play an important role in the prairie ecosystem. They avoid heavy brush and tall <br />grass due to the reduced visibility these habitats impose, They serve as a food source for many <br />predators, and their vacant burrows serve as homes for burrowing owls, black-footed ferrets, <br />rabbits, and rattlesnakes, <br /> <br />Mountain Plover <br />The mountain plover is a bird of the dry tablelands and Colorado Plateau. This species nests <br />primarily in shortgrass prairie sites used historically by prairie dogs, bison, and pronghorn. <br />Habitat requirements of this bird generally consist of open, flat tablelands, and short, <br />intensively grazed grasslands. Typically, mountain plovers nest in areas with at least 30 <br />percent bare ground and are often found in disturbed habitats, burned prairie, fallow <br />agricultural fields, and prairie dog colonies. <br /> <br />No Action Alternative - Under no action, no construction activities are anticipated along the pipeline <br />route or in other locations. Consequently, no effects to black-footed ferrets, black-tailed prairie dogs <br />or mountain plover are anticipated under no action, <br /> <br />Construction Alternative. This action will have no effect on the black-footed ferret. There is no <br />suitable habitat for black-footed ferrets within the portion of the project that will have ground <br />disturbing activities, A black-tailed prairie dog colony of less than three acres exists within <br />approximately 300 yards of the proposed pipeline, but this population will not be disturbed and does <br />not meet the 80-acre size requirement to support black-footed ferrets. <br /> <br />This action will have no effect on black tailed prairie dogs. A small colony (less than three acres) of <br />black tailed prairie dogs exists within approximately 300 yards of the portion of the project area that <br />will be subject to ground disturbing construction activities. However, this activity will not directly <br />impact the colony. In addition, the colony is situated in an area that receives considerable activity, <br />such as traffic along the park road, use of local trails, mowing and other maintenance and operational <br />activities associated with Pueblo Dam, and maintenance of pipelines and related equipment in the area. <br />Consequently, this colony is not anticipated to be disturbed by temporary construction or maintenance <br />activities associated with this project. <br /> <br />This action will have no effect on mountain plover or its critical habitat. Range lands, such as that <br />which will be impacted by this alternative's ground disturbing activities, typically must have a <br /> <br />17 <br />