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Aw <br /> BIO-Logic <br /> Natural Resource Consultants <br /> SUMMARY <br /> Transit Mix Concrete Co.(Transit Mix) is proposing to develop a granite quarry on the Hitch Rack Ranch <br /> property in rural El Paso County, Colorado(Appendix A,Figure 1). The development of the quarry <br /> would take place within habitat for the federally listed(Threatened)Mexican spotted owl(MSO). Transit <br /> Mix contracted BIO-Logic,Inc. (BIO-Logic)to conduct protocol surveys for MSO on the Ranch. <br /> The U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service(FWS)Survey Protocol for MSO requires four visits during each of <br /> two consecutive breeding seasons(March 1 to August 31). BIO-Logic biologists conducted the required <br /> four surveys in both 2015 and 2016. No MSO were detected during the surveys. We conclude that it is <br /> very unlikely that territorial,breeding MSO were present on the Ranch during the 2015 or 2016 breeding <br /> seasons,and that it is unlikely that non-territorial,non-breeding MSO occurred during the same period. <br /> PURPOSE AND NEED <br /> As part of their environmental due diligence for the project,Transit Mix is complying with U.S. <br /> Endangered Species Act requirements to determine the presence of MSO in the project area to help assess <br /> potential effects of the project on MSO. <br /> PROJECT AND SITE DESCRIPTION <br /> The Hitch Rack Ranch is privately owned and encompasses about 1,522 acres. The survey area lies <br /> within the Mount Big Chief U.S.Geological Survey(USGS)7.5 minute quadrangle, in Township 16 S, <br /> Range 67 W, Section 16. Elevation ranges from 6,800 to 7,720 feet in the survey area(Figure 2). <br /> The proposed quarry site is on the north side of the Ranch,within the Little Turkey Creek watershed. <br /> Also,a tributary to Little Fountain Creek flows southeast through Deadman Gulch in the project area. <br /> Terrain and raptor habitats vary considerably from north to south inside the survey area. Little Turkey <br /> Creek flows southeast through the survey area. The north side of the drainage is dominated by steep, <br /> generally south-and southwest-facing slopes that form a ridge separating Little Turkey Creek from <br /> Deadman Gulch. Rock outcrops are common on the slope in this area. The area south of Little Turkey <br /> Creek ascends gradually to the south and southwest and is characterized by numerous well-defined <br /> intermittent drainages separated by steep ridges. Springs and seeps are present in several of the drainages. <br /> The general aspect in this area is north and northeast,with variation along the intermittent drainages. <br /> Vegetation communities in the survey area are dominated by mixed conifer forest composed of Douglas <br /> fir,ponderosa pine,and white fir. Small areas are dominated by ponderosa pine with an understory of <br /> Gambel oak. Mountain shrub and pinyon juniper woodland communities are present primarily on east <br /> and southeast-facing slopes to the north of Little Turkey Creek.Narrow-leaf cottonwood and aspen occur <br /> in small numbers along Little Turkey Creek. <br /> 3 <br />