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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Federallv-Listed Endanl:ered and Threatened Soecies The USFWS has identified the following federally-listed species as potentially occurring within the TRSW A (Logan County) and PESW A (Sedgwick County): Bald eagle Threatened Mountain plover Proposed Threatened Eskimo curlew Endangered, probably extinct Current information indicates that occasional wintering bald eagles are probably the only terrestrial federally-listed species in the above group that inhabit either SW A. Associated primarily with migratory waterfowl resting areas, they are common along the South Platte River and adjacent plains reservoirs during winter. The presence of a prey base and availability of mature cottonwood trees for perching and roosting seem to be the major factors affecting distribution. The presence of twenty to thirty bald eagles is not uncommon at many ofthe reservoirs during the waterfowl migration period. Along the South Platte, singles or pairs are normally observed. Eagles apparently have an attraction to particular trees and routinely are observed at the same perch. Mountain plovers evolved on grasslands and breeding, nesting, and wintering areas are characterized by short vegetation, bare ground, flat topography, often with manure piles or rocks nearby. They are usually associated with prairie sites disturbed by grazing and digging mammals rather than pristine prairie landscapes. Mountain plovers are rarely near water. In Colorado, the Pawnee National Grasslands and the southeast area of the state are important breeding areas. The 1998 Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas indicates that mountain plovers do not breed in the vicinity of either SW A. The Eskimo curlew has only been sighted approximately 50 times in the past 70 years nationwide; none of these occurred in Colorado. The species is considered by some experts to be extinct. Although the whooping crane (endangered), piping plover (threatened), and interior least tern (endangered) are not identified as potentially occurring in either Logan or Sedgwick Counties, if proposed work in Colorado were to result in a depletion to the South Platte River that might affect these species in the neighboring state of Nebraska. RECREATION Both SW As are managed to provide wildlife-related recreation. Hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation are the main uses of the properties. During the fall and winter, hunting 10