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EXHIBIT H
<br />Wildlife Information
<br />To evaluate potential wildlife habitat impacts from the proposed operation, information was
<br />gathered from the Natural Diversity Information Source (NDIS) as well as publications
<br />associated with the Pawnee National Grasslands to the east of the site. The NDIS combines
<br />plant and animal abundance data from the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) and other
<br />Colorado natural resource agencies to be used for land -use analyses and decisions.
<br />The proposed permit area is managed rangeland with mining activities on adjacent properties.
<br />The site primarily contains upland rangeland with isolated areas of water, riparian, and wetland
<br />habitats. Upland areas consist primarily of native and introduced grasses while isolated stands of
<br />cottonwood and other riparian and wetland vegetation are found along Lone Tree Creek.
<br />There are no known federally threatened, endangered, or candidate species within the proposed
<br />site boundary. Federally threatened, endangered, or candidate species that could potentially be
<br />found in Weld County or that could potentially be affected by projects in Weld County include
<br />the Preble's meadow jumping mouse, interior least tern, Mexican piping plover, whooping crane,
<br />pallid sturgeon, Colorado butterfly plant, Ute ladies'- tresses orchid, and the western prairie
<br />fringed orchid. None of these species have been observed or documented within the proposed
<br />site boundary.
<br />Colorado state threatened, endangered, and species of concern that could potentially be found in
<br />Weld County or that could potentially be affected by projects in Weld County include the black -
<br />tailed prairie dog, Northern river otter, swift fox, American peregrine falcon, bald eagle,
<br />ferruginous hawk, greater sandhill crane, long - billed curlew, mountain plover, Western
<br />burrowing owl, Western snowy plover, plains minnow, suckermouth minnow, brassy minnow,
<br />common shiner, Iowa darter, stonecat, common garter snake, and Northern leopard frog. For
<br />many of these species, potentially suitable habitat does not exist within the proposed amendment
<br />area.
<br />Potentially suitable habitat does exist within the proposed amendment area for mammal and bird
<br />species such as, the black - tailed prairie dog, swift fox, mountain plover, and Western burrowing
<br />owl. Black- tailed prairie dogs and their burrows have been observed on the proposed site. No
<br />potential raptor nests were found in or near the project area. The Lone Tree Creek drainage
<br />within the proposed permit area could provide potential habitat for the common garter snake.
<br />Many birds may use habitats similar to those found at the proposed amendment area, either year -
<br />round, seasonally for nesting, or temporarily for roosting during migration. Some of the common
<br />or abundant species could include robins, orioles, starlings, swallows, magpies, wrens, longspurs,
<br />lark bunting, doves, kingbirds, and blackbirds. Because of the lack of open water habitat within
<br />and near the proposed permit area, shore birds and waterfowl are not likely to be present.
<br />It could be expected that most mammals common or abundant in Weld County would not be
<br />found near or within the proposed permit area. Smaller mammals that might be found at the
<br />Connell Carr Pit
<br />DRNS 112 Permit Application Page 19
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