WSP02759

• File Number: 8040.960
• Description: Section D General Studies - Dams
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/2004
• Author: Denver Water
• Title: Williams Fork Hydroelectric Project - FERC Number 2204 - Wildlife Habitat Survey Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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\larch through mid.\by ~ach year for bn:~dmg activities. Three sage grouse leks occur
1 104 mih:s from the Williams Fork Project: one to the \l,"est. one to the south. and one to
the cast

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J.2.3 EI" and .\Iull' Ikcr

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Both mule deer and elk migrate from higher-elevation summer ranges to winh:r ranges
each year as the availability of food resources decreases due to adverse winter conditions.
Typically. thc-s..: animals follow the same migration routes each year. Cedar Ridge. the
topographic ridge c'(lcnding northwest/southeast across the Williams Fork Riq:r at the
dam site (Figure ..t and Appendix A). is a known migratitHl roule for mule dCt'f and elk.
These species us(' the area within the FERC projccl boundary as winter range.

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Elk arc primarily grazers. feeding on
various grasse:o. throughout ml)st of the
year. Howe\"l.:r, as adverse winter weather
moves into their summer range. grasses
become unavailabk. and the elk adjust
their foraging behavior to include
browsing on small tress and shrubs.
including sagebrush. This typically
requires migration to areas with suitable
and available browse.

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The enl1re area around the Williams Fork
Resen:oir is designated as wimer range for
elk by CDOW. Wintering elk use the
vegetation of the upland sagebrush habitat
within the FERC project boundary and the
~urroundlng n:glOn Il.)r ll.lra\!ln1!. Tl1l.: area around [he northern half of the resen'oir is
designated as severe winter range tl.)[" elk. (nOW's elk wimer range map is pH)\"ided in
:\ppendix C.

Fi~urt'~. (,('dar J{id~l'. Fadn~ .\"orth Tu"ard
lht' \\"illiamt; Furk J{('wnoir llam.

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Deer arc primarily brow~l.'r~. feeding on the !caves and twigs of small tress and shrubs.
Therefore, the typical diet I'm mule deer includes [he vegetation of the upland sagebrush
habital withm the F1:RC project boundary and the surrounding region. \\"hen browse
becomes Una\'3ilable at higher de\'aliol1 summer ranges due !O winter weather conditions.
thl' mule deer migrate to lower e!c\'atlon areas such as IhL' area occuplL'd by the Williams
Fork Project to tind food. The entire area amund the- Williams Fork Reservoir is
designaled as winter range for mule deL'r by COO\\". Se\"Cre winler rangL' for mule deer
1I1 thIS regwn is limited to CL'dar Ridge. which e\tends along the northL'm side of Ihe
n:sernm. SL'\'erl' wlntL'r range is defined by the CDO\V as .. that part of the overall
range" wherL' 90 pcrcenl of the indl\-iduals an: located \\ hen the annual snowpack is at its
ma:\imum andM temperatures are al a minimum in the two worst winters out of ten"
1('00\\' 199R). Such wintL'ring ar~as ar~ IO:ss~ntial to h~rd sustenance during winters with

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