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EXHIBIT H — Wildlife Information
<br />1. Agricultural land, coniferous forests, drainages, wetlands, and brush land combine to provide a
<br />high diversity of wildlife habitat in the area in which the pit is located. Much of this diversity has been
<br />induced by irrigated agriculture, which began in the 1890s. There is no critical habitat in Archuleta County
<br />as identified for threatened and endangered species.9 All wildlife and wetland resource information is being
<br />reviewed with both the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Colorado Division of Wildlife. The project will not affect any
<br />Federally - listed or state - listed threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat that are protected by the
<br />Endangered Species Act or similar legislation.
<br />2. Wildlife species common in area:
<br />LOWER SAN JUAN RIVER VALLEY, ARCHULETA COUNTY
<br />The area's wildlife habitat corresponds to the ecosystems and plant communities present, which are part of the
<br />Sedimentary Mid - Elevation Forests ecoregion. The two communities which make up most of the site are the
<br />Southern Rockies River Bottom and the Pine - Juniper community. (See Exhibit J for more information.) Each plant
<br />community provides various wildlife needs (e.g., thermal and escape cover, forage, travel routes, etc.).
<br />Game species found in the area include: mule deer, elk, Merriam's turkey, cottontail rabbit, black bear, and
<br />mountain lion.
<br />Non -game species are widely represented in the area with a variety of birds, small mammals,
<br />reptiles, and amphibians adding diversity to the wildlife in the area.
<br />The site is on the western edge of a Colorado DOW- designated elk migration route, and on the
<br />northwestern fringe of a DOW- designated elk winter concentration area (range for elk for severe
<br />winters). It is also on the north - northwestern edge of a DOW- designated mule deer winter
<br />concentration area. The river bottom is a summer and fall concentration area for black bear.
<br />Other Fish and Wildlife Resources -Other Fish Species
<br />Fish species inhabiting streams near the project area include such game fish as rainbow trout, brook trout,
<br />largemouth bass, and catfish. Native fish include cutthroat trout, round tail chub, flannel mouth sucker,
<br />bluehead sucker, speckled dace, fathead minnow, and mottled sculpin.
<br />Other Wildlife Species
<br />Various waterfowl and shorebirds inhabit or frequent the area, including: several species of ducks, Canada
<br />geese, great blue heron, sora rail, red - winged blackbird, yellow- headed blackbird, and marsh wren. The
<br />various raptors found in association with the area include: Bald eagle, Red - tailed hawk, Cooper's hawk,
<br />sharp- shinned hawk, northern harrier (marsh hawk), peregrine (prairie) falcon, rough - legged hawk,
<br />ferruginous hawk, and great horned owl, and others. Amphibians and reptiles inhabiting the valley include:
<br />chorus frog, leopard frog, woodhouse toad, spadefoot toad, tiger salamander, wandering garter snake,
<br />black (garter) snake, Western green snake, Western bull snake, (Western kingsnake), Western prairie
<br />rattlesnake, (fence lizard), sagebrush lizard, and mountain short -homed lizard. While more common lower
<br />down the San Juan River valley, these may be found in this vicinity.
<br />2. Threatened and endangered species impacted:
<br />Suitable habitat for the following threatened or endangered species may found in or near the project site:
<br />Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius),
<br />razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus), and Pagosa skyrocket (Ipomopsis polyantha). None of these species
<br />have been observed on -site in areas to be impacted by mining.
<br />9 http / /cnthab.fws gov/ visited 21OCT08 and 24DEC14.
<br />C &J Gravel Products, Inc. Page 37 01 JAN 2015
<br />Application for Permit: Two Rivers Pit M -2015- C &J- TRP -V5 -001
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