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or BIo-Logic <br /> Natural Resource Consultants <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 /> METHODS <br /> 2015 Survey <br /> Methods followed the FWS 2012 Mexican Spotted Owl Survey Protocol. Prior to the survey, call stations <br /> were mapped using GIS based on vegetation data collected onsite by BIO-Logic and terrain to provide <br /> full coverage of all suitable MSO habitat. BIO-Logic established eight calling stations set approximately <br /> 300 to 600 meters apart depending on terrain(Figure 2). When assessing the call stations during the first <br /> visit, one of the calling points was moved a short distance to better cover an intermittent drainage. <br /> Four of the call stations were on slopes and ridges south of Little Turkey Creek. Three were on a road <br /> along Little Turkey Creek. One point was along an access road that follows the unnamed intermittent <br /> stream that flows through Deadman Gulch. The biologists hiked to the four locations south of Little <br /> Turkey Creek and to the station along the road in the northeast corner. They drove to the other three <br /> stations. <br /> Surveys were conducted on June 17,2015 by Jim Le Fevre and John Wickersham, on June 26 and July 20 <br /> by Jim Le Fevre and Dan Soucy, and on August 24 by Jim Le Fevre. Each biologist is certified by FWS <br /> to conduct MSO surveys and has conducted several other MSO surveys in other locations. Surveys were <br /> all nocturnal, begun after sunset. Weather was generally favorable throughout the survey period, <br /> although we did encounter short periods of light rain during two visits. Typical conditions during most of <br /> the survey periods were light winds, no rain, and temperatures down to about 60 °F by the end of the <br /> survey night. At each calling station a biologist remained at the station for the period of time specified in <br /> the protocol,alternating periods of voice imitation of MSO calls with listening periods. <br /> 2016 Survey <br /> In discussion with FWS prior to the 2016 survey, some call stations were moved and other locations <br /> established to provide additional coverage to areas beyond the project boundary and to maintain adequate <br /> coverage within the project area(Figure 2). Thirteen call stations set 300 to 500 meters apart were <br /> established. <br /> Five of the call stations were on slopes and ridges south of Little Turkey Creek,three were on the road <br /> along Little Turkey Creek, and four were on slopes or ridges north of Little Turkey Creek. One point was <br />