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6.2 Results and Discussion <br />The results of this evaluation are not definitive, but are based on best available information and best <br />professional judgment. <br />6.2.1 Plants <br />A total of 18 species of federally -listed plants were evaluated for potential occurrence onsite. The <br />results of the listed plant evaluation are presented in Table 8. No federally -listed species of plants <br />were found to have a reasonable likelihood of occurring onsite. Likelihood of onsite occurrence <br />ranged from "unlikely" to "no likelihood" based on the ranking system developed for this study. <br />Generally, most known populations of federally -listed plant species did not occur within, or in <br />regional proximity to, Gunnison County. Oftentimes, the project site elevation was out of range for a <br />given species or the habitat and substrate was significantly inappropriate for species establishment. <br />Should federally -listed species of plant(s) be later identified onsite, the USFWS will be consulted <br />before the population is impacted. <br />6.2.2 Wildlife <br />A total of 20 species of state and federally -listed wildlife that have been documented to occur in <br />Gunnison County were evaluated for potential occurrence onsite. The results of the listed wildlife <br />evaluation are presented in Table 9. Of all state and federally -listed species of wildlife evaluated, <br />only two have some potential to occur onsite: the northern pocket gopher (Thomomys talpoides <br />macrotis) and the northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens). These species are both state -listed as Special <br />Concern by the CPW, but are not federally -listed. <br />These two species scored a "Some Likelihood" ranking, which was deemed justified for several <br />reasons. Both species have a wide-ranging distribution across the State of Colorado, including within <br />Gunnison County, and their numbers are thought to be relatively abundant. The northern pocket <br />gopher occurs in a wide range of upland habitats, some of which were found to occur onsite. <br />Likewise, the northern leopard frog occurs in a wide range of wetland habitats, and one individual <br />frog that may have been a northern leopard frog was observed onsite during wetland delineation <br />activities (within "Wetland B"; Wetland Delineation Report, Appendix I). The frog was resting <br />within a small, muddy, unvegetated pool approximately 6 inches deep and 10 feet across which was <br />part of Wetland B, a small ground -water fed slope wetland. It is believed that the presence of the one <br />32 <br />P:\Mpls\06 CO\26\06261003 MCC Refuse Pile Site Review & Permit\WorkFiles\Permit Application\2014 Revision\Exhibit 82 2014-05- <br />29.docx <br />