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THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT ASSESSMENT <br />BEARSON PROPERTY <br />WELD COUNTY, COLORADO <br />Table 1. Federally threatened, endangered, and candidate species potentially found <br />on the Bearson property in Weld County. <br />w = <br />Federally Threatened Species. <br />Sourcc: Service 2010. <br />Ecological Features of the Project Area <br />Vegetation <br />The project area is within the St. Vrain valley characterized by fertile alluvial soils <br />that have been intensively farmed for decades. The project area contains no natural <br />drainages of tributaries and ditches are largely concrete lined and lack tall, dense riparian <br />vegetation. A concrete -lined lateral of the Last Chance Ditch flows northward across the <br />project area toward St. Vrain Creek. Irrigation return flows support a large wetland in the <br />northeast corner of the property (Wetland 1) and another wetland (Wetland 2) occurs in <br />the southeast section of the project area (Figure 2). Wetland 1 is dominated by common <br />threesquare (Scheonoplectus pungens), saltgrass (Distehilis spicata), foxtail barley <br />Hordeum jubatuna), cattail (Typha sp.), curly dock (Rumex criapus), spikerush <br />Eleocharis palustris), alkali muhly (Muhlenbergia asperifolia), goosefoot <br />Chenopodium sp.), and softstem bulrush (Scheonoplectus lactustris) (Photos 1 and 2). <br />Natural and planted windbreaks consisting of narrow patches of peachleaf willow (Salix <br />amvgdaloides) sandbar willow (Salix exigua) and young cottonwood occur on the east <br />3 <br />Suitable <br />Habitat <br />Common Name Scientific Name Status Habitat Present <br />Mammals <br />Preble's meadow Zopus hudsonius T Shrub riparian/wet meadows No <br />jumping mouse preblei along permanent or <br />intermittent streams and <br />canals <br />Plants <br />Colorado butterfly Gaura neomexicana T Subirrigated, alluvial soils on No <br />plant ssp. Coloradensis level floodplains and drainage <br />bottoms (5,000 to 6,000 feet) <br />Ute ladies' -tresses Spiranthes diluvialis T Moist alluvial meadows and No <br />orchid floodplain of perennial <br />streams below 6,500 feet <br />w = <br />Federally Threatened Species. <br />Sourcc: Service 2010. <br />Ecological Features of the Project Area <br />Vegetation <br />The project area is within the St. Vrain valley characterized by fertile alluvial soils <br />that have been intensively farmed for decades. The project area contains no natural <br />drainages of tributaries and ditches are largely concrete lined and lack tall, dense riparian <br />vegetation. A concrete -lined lateral of the Last Chance Ditch flows northward across the <br />project area toward St. Vrain Creek. Irrigation return flows support a large wetland in the <br />northeast corner of the property (Wetland 1) and another wetland (Wetland 2) occurs in <br />the southeast section of the project area (Figure 2). Wetland 1 is dominated by common <br />threesquare (Scheonoplectus pungens), saltgrass (Distehilis spicata), foxtail barley <br />Hordeum jubatuna), cattail (Typha sp.), curly dock (Rumex criapus), spikerush <br />Eleocharis palustris), alkali muhly (Muhlenbergia asperifolia), goosefoot <br />Chenopodium sp.), and softstem bulrush (Scheonoplectus lactustris) (Photos 1 and 2). <br />Natural and planted windbreaks consisting of narrow patches of peachleaf willow (Salix <br />amvgdaloides) sandbar willow (Salix exigua) and young cottonwood occur on the east <br />3