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<br />o <br />o <br />(~ <br />-, <br /> <br />13 <br /> <br />.... <br />..c-. <br /> <br />The variety in topography and diversity of vegetative communities within the San Juan Basin <br />provide habitats for a broad assemblage of terrestrial species. These include Rocky Mountain <br />elk (Cervus elaohus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) as primary big game mammals in <br />certain portions of the basin and such predators and furbearers as coyote (1&!:lil! latrans), gray <br />fox (Urocvon cinereoaraenteus), kit fox (Vuloes macrotis), mountain lion (Felis concolor), <br />bobcat (!.la:lJi rufus), striped skunk (Meohitis meohitis), western spotted skunk (Soiloaale <br />aracilis) badger (Taxidea taxus), and raccoon (Procvon lotor). <br /> <br />A wide variety of both migratory and resident bird species are known from the San Juan Basin. <br />These include raptors such as the bald eagle (Haliaeetus lucocephalus), peregrine falcon (Falco <br />oerearinus), golden eagle (Aauila chrvsaetos), ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis), red-tailed hawk <br />(B. iamaicensis), and osprey (Pandion haliaetus). Species of shorebirds documented in the San <br />Juan River Valley include the great blue heron (Ardea herodias), black-crowned night heron <br />(Nvcticorax nvcticorax), killdeer (Charadrius vociferus), and black-necked stilt (Himantoous <br />mexicanus). The San Juan River provides wintering and nesting habitat for migratory <br />waterfowl. Most noticeable of these are the Canada geese (Branta canadensis) utilizing the <br />croplands adjacent to the San Juan River in the vicinity of Farmington. Concentrations of this <br />species in the river valley fluctuate depending upon food availability and weather conditions. <br /> <br />For a more detailed listing of the basin's avifauna, the reader is referred to Hubbard (1978). <br /> <br />Threatened Or Endangered Soecies <br /> <br />In addition to the razorback sucker, whiCh is the subject of this proposal, species of both <br />plants and animals that have been federally listed under the Endangered Species Act may <br />occur within the general area of this analysis. These include the threatened Mesa Verde <br />cactus (Sclerocactus mesae-verdae) and bald eagle, and the endangered mancos Milkvetch <br />(Astraaalus humillimus), southwestern willow flycatcher (Emoidonax trailii extimusl, peregrine <br />falcon, and Colorado squawfish. <br /> <br />The Mesa Verde cactus was listed as threatened on October 30, 1979. Threats to the cactus <br />are principally collection of plants by commercial and private collectors and destruction or <br />modification of its habitat through surface disturbance from energy development and <br />unregulated off-road vehicle use. Application of agricultural herbicides and pesticides may also <br />harm the species and its pollinators. Mesa Verde cactus is known from only five isolated <br />populations of northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado. Three of the New <br />Mexico populations occur on the Navajo Indian Reservation. <br /> <br />The Mancos milkvetch was listed as an endangered species on June 27, 1985. The species <br />is known only from northwestern New Mexico and extreme southwestern Colorado. It is most <br />commonly found in scattered populations between the town of Towaoc, Colorado, and the <br />Chaco River in New Mexico. The primary threats to the plant are habitat destruction through <br />surface disturbance associated with energy development and conversion to other uses such <br />as road and utility rights-of-way, and by illegal collecting. Agricultural pesticides may affect <br />the pollinators of the milkvetch. Twelve of the thirteen extant populations are primarily on <br />lands of the Navajo Nation and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. <br />