2014-11-14_PERMIT FILE - M2014043 ‎(3)‎

• Permit No: M2014043
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 11/14/2014
• Doc Name: Adequacy Review 01
• From: Environment, Inc.
• To: DRMS
• Email Name: TOD
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Ms. Susan Linner
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Page 3
October 9, 2014
1T = Threatened Species, E = Endangered Species.
2Water depletions in the South Platte River may affect the species and/or critical habitat in downstream reaches in
other counties or states.
Source: Service 2014.
The proposed project would not affect the Mexican spotted owl because of the lack of
suitable habitat within the study area. The interior least tern, piping plover, whooping
crane, pallid sturgeon, and western prairie fringed orchid are species that are affected
by continued or ongoing water depletions to the Platte River system. No depletions
to the South Platte River are anticipated for this project.
Rationale for excluding the study area as potential Preble's habitat
ERO determined that the study area does not contain suitable habitat for Zapus
hudsonius preblei based on the following:
• The study area is located with the Preble's Denver metro block clearance zone.
• The wetlands in the study area do not contain vegetation suitable for Preble's
habitat.
Rationale for excluding the study area as potential ULTO habitat
The study area is located within the 100 -year floodplain of the South Platte River,
which requires ULTO surveys by the Service. ERO determined the study area is not
conducive to the establishment of ULTO and differs from the criteria of the Service's
November 1992 Interim Survey Requirements for Spiranthes diluvialis (Service 1992)
for the following reasons:
• No vegetation typically associated with ULTO is present in the study area.
• The wetlands in the study area are too dense to allow the establishment of the
generally shade - intolerant ULTO.
Rationale for excluding the study area as potential CBP habitat
• The Service has not established formal survey guidelines for CBP but has
indicated that areas similar to, and slightly drier than, ULTO habitat should be
assessed. For the same reasons as described for ULTO, habitat for CBP does
not occur at the study area.
Other Sensitive Species
In addition to species listed as threatened or endangered, ERO assessed the study area
for potential habitat and the presence of species protected by the Migratory Bird
ERO
Resources
Corporation
Suitable Habitat
Present or
Common Name
Scientific Name
Status'
Habitat
Potential to be
Affected by
Project?
Western prairie fringed
Platanthera
T
Moist to wet tallgrass
No habitat; no
orchid2
praeclara
prairies and sedge
depletions
meadows, mostly in
anticipated
relatively undisturbed
grasslands
1T = Threatened Species, E = Endangered Species.
2Water depletions in the South Platte River may affect the species and/or critical habitat in downstream reaches in
other counties or states.
Source: Service 2014.
The proposed project would not affect the Mexican spotted owl because of the lack of
suitable habitat within the study area. The interior least tern, piping plover, whooping
crane, pallid sturgeon, and western prairie fringed orchid are species that are affected
by continued or ongoing water depletions to the Platte River system. No depletions
to the South Platte River are anticipated for this project.
Rationale for excluding the study area as potential Preble's habitat
ERO determined that the study area does not contain suitable habitat for Zapus
hudsonius preblei based on the following:
• The study area is located with the Preble's Denver metro block clearance zone.
• The wetlands in the study area do not contain vegetation suitable for Preble's
habitat.
Rationale for excluding the study area as potential ULTO habitat
The study area is located within the 100 -year floodplain of the South Platte River,
which requires ULTO surveys by the Service. ERO determined the study area is not
conducive to the establishment of ULTO and differs from the criteria of the Service's
November 1992 Interim Survey Requirements for Spiranthes diluvialis (Service 1992)
for the following reasons:
• No vegetation typically associated with ULTO is present in the study area.
• The wetlands in the study area are too dense to allow the establishment of the
generally shade - intolerant ULTO.
Rationale for excluding the study area as potential CBP habitat
• The Service has not established formal survey guidelines for CBP but has
indicated that areas similar to, and slightly drier than, ULTO habitat should be
assessed. For the same reasons as described for ULTO, habitat for CBP does
not occur at the study area.
Other Sensitive Species
In addition to species listed as threatened or endangered, ERO assessed the study area
for potential habitat and the presence of species protected by the Migratory Bird
ERO
Resources
Corporation