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WILDLIFE RESOURCES ASSESSMENT <br /> MORTON LAKES PROPERTY <br /> WELD COUNTY,COLORADO <br /> conduct surveys or coordinate with the Service prior to conducting activities in that area. <br /> Additionally,the 2008 site visit was conducted to identify the location and size of any <br /> prairie dog towns within and near the proposed project area, and to evaluate the <br /> capability of any existing prairie dog towns to support black-footed ferrets. Federal <br /> guidelines establish a minimum of 80 acres of black-tailed prairie dog towns that the <br /> Service believes is needed to support the black-footed ferret(50 CFR 402). No prairie <br /> dog colony is currently located within the proposed project area. No action is necessary <br /> regarding the black-footed ferret. <br /> Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse <br /> Species Background <br /> Preble's was listed as a threatened species on May 13, 1998 under the ESA (see <br /> Federal Register Vol. 63,No 232:66777-66784 12/3/98). After reviewing recent studies <br /> and the best scientific and commercial data available,the Service concluded on July 10, <br /> 2008 that(1) the Preble's meadow jumping mouse is a valid subspecies and should not be <br /> delisted based upon taxonomic revision; (2)the subspecies is not threatened throughout <br /> all of its range; and (3)the portion of the current range of the subspecies located in <br /> Colorado represents a significant portion of the current range where Preble's is likely to <br /> become endangered within the foreseeable future, and the subspecies remains threatened <br /> in Colorado. <br /> Under existing regulations, either a habitat assessment or a full presence/absence <br /> survey for Preble's is required for any habitat-disturbing activity within areas determined <br /> to be potential Preble's habitat(generally stream and riparian habitats along the Colorado <br /> Front Range). Typically, Preble's occurs below 7,600 feet in elevation, generally in <br /> lowlands with medium to high moisture along permanent or intermittent streams and <br /> canals (Meaney et al. 1997). Preble's occurs in low undergrowth consisting of grasses <br /> and forbs, in open wet meadows, riparian corridors near forests, or where tall shrubs and <br /> low trees provide adequate cover(Service 1999; Meaney et al. 1997). Preble's typically <br /> inhabits areas characterized by well-developed plains riparian vegetation with relatively <br /> undisturbed grassland and a water source nearby. <br /> FRO <br /> 7 Resources <br /> Corporollon <br />