2016-02-03_PERMIT FILE - C1981038 ‎(6)‎

• Permit No: C1981038
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 2/3/2016
• Section_Exhibit Name: Volume 9A Environmental Resources - Fish & Wildlife Appendix
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

J. E. Stover & Associates, Inc
December 1, 2015
Page 8
Because the mine is in reclamation and very little mine -related activity is taking place near the river
corridor, and because future reclamation activity would be temporary and short-term, and because
the portion of the mine permit boundary within and near the river corridor represents a fraction of
the home range of a pair of river otters, the effect of mine activities on the continued existence of
river otters is expected to be extremely low.
Colorado River Basin Endangered Fishes
The upper Colorado River Basin is home to 12 native fish species, four of which are listed as
endangered: bonytail chub, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, and razorback sucker. The
Colorado pikeminnow and humpback chub were listed in 1967 at Federal Register 32:4001, the
razorback sucker was listed in 1990 at Federal Register 55:21154-21161, and the bonytail was
listed in 1980 at Federal Register 45:27710-27713. Decline of the four endangered species is due
at least in part to habitat destruction (diversion and impoundment of rivers) and competition and
predation from introduced fish species. In 1994, the USFWS designated critical habitat for the four
endangered species at Federal Register 56:54957-54967, which in Colorado includes the 100 -year
floodplain of the upper Colorado River from Rifle to Lake Powell, and the Gunnison River from Delta
to Grand Junction.
None of the four endangered Colorado River fishes occur in or near the mine permit boundary and
the mine permit boundary does not occur within or adjacent to designated critical habitat. The
closest designated critical habitat and the closest potential populations of the endangered fishes are
in the Gunnison River, approximately 25 miles southwest of the mine boundary.
Potential impacts to Colorado River endangered fishes could result from water depletion in the
drainage of the North Fork River, a tributary of the Gunnison River. Water consumption in the
greater Colorado River basin has the potential to diminish backwater spawning areas in
downstream designated critical habitat in the Colorado River. The currently permitted water
consumption rate for the Bowie No. 1 Mine sediment ponds is 3.08 acre-feet per year (Water Case
#02 CW 77). The currently permitted consumption rate of water for road dust suppression during
reclamation activities at the mine is 2.2 acre-feet per year. The total annual water consumption rate
of 5.28 acre-feet remains unchanged in the Bowie No. 1 mine permit.
The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, a partnership of public and private
organizations working to recover the four species while allowing continued and future water
development, was established in 1988. Recovery strategies include conducting research, improving
river habitat, providing adequate stream flows, managing non-native fish, and raising endangered
fish in hatcheries for stocking. The USFWS has determined that the Recovery Program has made
"sufficient progress to be the reasonable and prudent alternative to avoid the likelihood of jeopardy
to the endangered fishes and to avoid destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitat by
depletions of 100 acre-feet or less."
The Department of Interior Office of Surface Mining and the USFWS have completed formal
consultations on behalf of Bowie No. 1 Mine under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
regarding water depletions to endangered fish habitat. As mentioned above, no change to Bowie
No. 1 Mine's water consumption rate is currently proposed.
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