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RULE 2 - PERMITS <br /> Ground squirrels (Spermophilus sp.) were the most common mammal within the area, but many <br /> other mammals were nearly as abundant, including the porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), yellow- <br /> bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris), and least chipmunk (Neotamias minimus) (see Exhibit <br /> 2.04.11-E1, Fish and Wildlife Information, for a complete species list). <br /> Other upland gauze birds - The mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) was the only other upland <br /> game bird recorded on or near the permit area during the 2008 surveys. Mourning doves occur <br /> regularly throughout the area during late spring and summer. <br /> They were usually associated with agricultural lands, tree windbreaks, or perched on power lines <br /> (Exhibit 2.04.11-E1, Fish and Wildlife Information). <br /> Regular sightings of blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) have been documented in most years, <br /> from one to three individuals each year. No blue grouse were observed in 2008 in the vicinity of <br /> the PSCM permit area. The majority of past observations have included lone displaying males on <br /> the Seneca II Mine in the SE 1/ of Section 36 T6N R87W, N % of Section 1 T5N R87W, or NE 1/ <br /> of Section 2 T5N R87W. A few observations have been recorded elsewhere in the area within the <br /> past 10 years. Lone displaying males have been documented north of the Twentymile County Road <br /> in the SW 1/ SE 1/ of Section 28 T6N R87W and near one of the haul roads associated with the <br /> Yoast Mine in the NE 1/ SW 1/ of Section 8 T5N R87W (Exhibit 2.04.11-E1, Fish and Wildlife <br /> Information). <br /> Fish - With the exception of Grassy Creek and Little Grassy Creek, there are no perennial streams <br /> within the permit boundary. Grassy Creek is a perennial stream but was recorded to be intermittent <br /> in 2007 at one out of the four surface water sample locations. Little Grassy Creek was intermittent <br /> in 2008 at the southern limit of the PSCM disturbance area and perennial below the Wadge <br /> Impoundment (Pond 002). Please see Section 2.04.7, Hydrology Description, for more information <br /> on flows and water quality standards. Other drainages in the permit area are intermittent or <br /> ephemeral and do not have sufficient sustained flows to support fisheries. No fish surveys have <br /> been required by CDOW or CDRMS for any of the mines since no suitable fish habitat exists on the <br /> Seneca II Mine, Yoast Mine, or the PSCM. <br /> Special Status Species <br /> No specific baseline studies were required for the permit area for any special status species, with the <br /> exception of the lek surveys for the two grouse species, the raptor nest surveys, and the greater <br /> sandhill crane surveys. Special status species include federal or state listed threatened, endangered, <br /> or candidate species; state species of special concern; and BLM sensitive species. ICF Jones & <br /> Stokes monitored for any incidental observations of federally listed species while conducting other <br /> wildlife surveys on the site (Exhibit 2.04.11-E1, Fish and Wildlife Information). <br /> Table 2.04.11-T6 lists 24 special status species for Routt County, Colorado (BLM 2008; CDOW <br /> 2007; CDOW 2008b; USFWS 2008). The table includes the species' federal or state status, habitat <br /> associations and likelihood of occurrence in the SCCC permit area. For twelve of the 22 special <br /> status species, the likelihood of occurrence is low due to the lack of suitable habitat. The remaining <br /> species with potential to occur in the permit area are described in further detail below. <br /> RN15-01 2.04-166 Revision 10/17 <br />