2016-01-07_PERMIT FILE - C2010089A (10)

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reported to be "apparently secure." According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "no critical habitat rules have been published for the Western Burrowing Owl". According to a recent state wide summary of the biology of the Burrowing Owl in Colorado (U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. 2003. Status Assessment and Conservation Plan for the Western Burrowing Owl in the United States. Biological Technical Publication BTP-R6001-2003. 108 pages), Burrowing Owls rarely winter in Colorado, but usually winter along the U.S. - Mexican border or in Central or South America. The population of the Burrowing Owl on the western slope is found primarily in Grand County, westward to the Utah border. According to the distribution maps found in this report the only reported instance of the Burrowing Owl at the time of this report in Montrose County was reported near the Delta -Montrose County line a few miles south of Delta. Population trends for Colorado were reported to be stable as "no significant trends were detected over any survey period." In Colorado, this species appears to have a synergistic relationship in which prairie dogs towns that had been recently vacated did not contain any breeding Burrowing Owls although, suitable habitat in the form of available burrows was present. However, when the prairie dogs recolonized the site, nesting Burrowing Owls were also reported. The extent of the Prairie Dog colonies on the existing NH mine area, which corresponds to the southern portion of the New Horizon North Mine, as surveyed in 1979 are shown on Map 2.04.11-1, New Horizon North Mine - Fish and Wildlife Resource Map. Mariah and Associates reported that three Gunnison prairie dog towns were observed and a total of 16 adult prairie dogs and 123 burrows were observed. They reported that these three colonies where originally part of one single large colony that had been broken up by road construction and mining activities. Mapping of Burrowing Owl Colonies In meeting with the CDOW, WFC was directed to map the extent of the existing Prairie Dog colonies within and adjacent to the New Horizon North Mine area. The results of this survey are shown on Map 2.04.11-1, New Horizon North Mine - Fish and Wildlife Resource Map. WFC was informed that it was not necessary to conduct formal surveys of these areas documenting the number and location of burrows and the number of animals using these areas at this time. During the time spent conducting various environmental baseline studies on the site between October 2008 and September 2009, wherein WFC's consultant spent approximately 90 field days working on the site, it was determined that there were four existing Prairie Dog colonies located within the New Horizon North Mine permit area. The largest single prairie dog town was located on the existing reclamation on the NH1 or Rice Tract. While we did not specifically count the number of animals we saw, a visual estimate would be that there are approximately 200 to 300 prairie dogs using this site. This compares with the population estimate of 16 adult animals observed in 1979. Large numbers of prairie dogs were observed in the early spring and as the Section 2.05.6(2) Page 2 Sept. 2015 (TR -11)