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<br />00096C <br /> <br />- Z8 - <br /> <br />doing EIS's, county planners, etc. will grow causing DOW's staff workload for <br />this purpose to double. Big game populations will be squeezed into smaller <br />wintering areas near private lands resulting in more and larger game <br />damage claims. Damage claims and complaints could increase two-fold in some <br />counties. <br /> <br />Natural Features Impact <br /> <br />The Colorado Natural Areas Program has indicated <br />that the high scenario of energy production would have an impact on many <br />Federal and State endangered, threatened or endemic plant species occurring <br />in northwest Colorado. Approximately 2,500 species of flowering plants can <br />be found in the northwest portion of Colorado and could be affected by <br />energy production. Of course, the degree of actual impact for most of these <br />species is not yet known due to the incomplete inventory of this area. Besides <br />the flowering plants. it is also important to account for. the non-flowering <br />species, such as fungi. algae and bryophytes. Approximately 50 plant species <br />in Colorado have been proposed as endangered or threatened; an additional <br />33 are candidates for the Federal Register list but have not been formally <br />proposed. Nearly 90' of these species occur in western Colorado on lands of <br />various ownership which are leased for coal, gas or mineral exploration. To <br />date four species of cacti have been or soon will be listed as endangered <br />in Colorado, three of which are in western Colorado, and which face possible <br />extinction from Western Slope energy development. <br /> <br />n,e threat of extinction or destruction of significant populations <br />of flowering and non-flowering plants is greatest at the high scenario of <br />energy production. The botany of western Colorado needs considerable <br />additional study. and rapid energy production might well outpace the planned <br />collection of data and identification of significant localities having high <br />potential priorities for protection. The pressure to push energy production if <br />to a high level might displace rational land use decisions and bypass <br />environmental-impact statements and reviews. All of these pressures for <br />acceleration of energy production would represent significant threats to <br />the natural heritage of Colorado. <br />