Laserfiche WebLink
RULE 2 PERMITS <br />golden eagles, two by red-tailed hawks, and one by a long-eared owl. Four nest sites (three golden eagle <br />and one red-tailed hawk) were active in both years. <br />Raptor nesting in the Wildlife Study Area occurred in rock outcrop and trees along drainages (Map 15B <br />Sheet 1 and Table 2.04.11-17). The aspen forest in the higher elevations of the Wildlife Study Area <br />(approximately the southern one-third of the study area) could also support nesting by forest dwelling <br />raptors. However, due to snow conditions these areas were not surveyed in the spring seasons. <br />Furthermore, summer surveys in the aspen forest may not have adequately identified nests due to the <br />decreased ability to detect nests when trees have their leaves. <br />Thirty-six nest sites were located within the Collom permit expansion area. Eleven of these nests were <br />active in 2006 and/or 2007, including one golden eagle nest (Table 2.04.11-17). Eight nest sites within <br />Little Collom Gulch would be north of the temporaty spoil pile and sediment ponds (Map 15B Sheet 1). <br />Two of these were occupied in at least one year: Nest 33 used by Cooper's hawk in 2006 but not 2007, <br />and Nest 51 used by Long-eared owl in 2006 but not 2007. Both nests were located in box elder trees. <br />Greater Sage -Grouse — The largest number of Greater Sage -Grouse in Colorado occur in the <br />northwestern portion of the state, with Moffat County supporting the majority of breeding populations <br />within the region (Northwest Colorado Greater Sage -Grouse Working Group [GSGWG] 2008). The <br />population in northwest Colorado exhibited an increasing trend from 1997-2005. Overall, sage grouse <br />populations in Colorado have been increasing and there has been no dramatic decline since the 1960s. <br />Braun (1995) determined that sage grouse populations in Moffat and Rio Blanco counties are secure. In <br />general, sage grouse use of reclaimed mine areas in Colorado has been slow to develop because of the <br />species reliance on big sagebrush, which is difficult to establish in reclamation efforts (GSGWG 2008). <br />GIS data (CDOW 2008) indicate Greater Sage -Grouse production areas across the northern two-thirds of <br />the Colowyo revised permit area (i.e., existing permit area plus Collom expansion), and brooding habitat <br />occurs in the northwest portion of the area and a small area in the northeastern corner (Map 15B Sheet 2). <br />Winter sage grouse range occurs across the northern and northwestern portion of the Colowyo revised <br />permit area, and severe winter range is delineated to the north. <br />Nine Greater Sage -Grouse leks have been documented in the Collom Wildlife Study Area (Map 15B <br />Sheet 2). Three of these leks were active (i.e., at least one sage -grouse present) in both 2006 and 2007, <br />including SG7, Morgan 2A, and Morgan 3. Abundance of grouse at these leks was substantially higher <br />compared to the other leks that were surveyed. Two sage -grouse leks were active only in 2007 and <br />abundance was low (five or fewer grouse). Four leks were inactive both years (Cedar Creek 2006, 2007). <br />In 2006, abundance at active leks ranged from one sage -grouse (one male, no females) at the Morgan -3 <br />lek, up to 31 sage -grouse (25 males, six females) at the SG7 lek (Table 2.04.11-18). In 2007, abundance <br />at active leks ranged from two sage -grouse (2 males, no females) at the SG4 and SG8-Upper Morgan <br />leks, up to 45 sage -grouse (42 males, 3 females) at the Morgan -2A lek. Abundance appeared to fluctuate <br />among years; however, only one site visit was made each year. Therefore, this variation in counts could <br />be due to sampling variation rather than actual changes in abundance. <br />Four sage grouse leks were located within the Collom permit expansion area (2 were active) (Table <br />2.04.11-18). Leks SG3 and SG4 would be approximately 0.6 miles or greater from mining disturbances <br />(Map 15B Sheet 2). SG3 was inactive in both 2006 and 2007. No grouse were observed at SG4 in 2006, <br />and two males were observed at SG4 in 2007. <br />Columbian Sharp -tailed Grouse — Columbian sharp -tailed grouse populations in Colorado are healthy <br />compared to other portions of their range. Revegetation and reclamation of mining disturbance may <br />Collom — Rule 2, Page 65 Revision Date: 12/30/16 <br />Revision No.: TR -108 <br />