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Transit Mix Concrete Co. <br /> occur in and near the permit area year-round. The site is mapped within mule deer summer <br /> range and concentration area, and within mule deer winter range. White-tailed deer also occur <br /> in the area, mainly in summer. <br /> The most important big game habitat on the Ranch is winter range, because most deer and elk <br /> herds in the state are limited by the quality and quantity of winter range. The most important <br /> winter range on the Ranch is in the lower part in open shrublands, especially on south-facing <br /> slopes where browse shrubs are most abundant and most accessible during periods of deep <br /> snow. The mining area generally provides few areas of elk and deer winter range because of <br /> predominant north-facing slopes, dense forest cover, and higher elevation. <br /> Transit Mix and their consulting biologists have met with CPW, and CPW has not expressed <br /> concern over impacts to big game and movement corridors. CPW provided recommendations to <br /> the Division which Transit Mix will implement. These have been incorporated into the Mitigation <br /> Measures section, below. <br /> II. Aquatic Species <br /> Little Turkey Creek has significantly different hydrologic conditions across the project area. <br /> Upstream areas in the quarry are exhibit perennial flow where aquatic species exist, while the <br /> channel east of the "East Fault' is dry much of the year. Aquifer recharge and upstream <br /> diversions result in consistently dry conditions at the access road crossing location, and these <br /> conditions preclude the existence of aquatic species. <br /> Aquatic species in the upper channel are isolated from downstream populations by multiple fish <br /> barriers. Primarily, the stream channel is dry for several miles across the lower ranch and likely <br /> beyond the property boundary and highway crossing. Also, water rights infrastructure includes <br /> multiple diversions which include headgates and headwalls. These structures are also barriers <br /> to fish passage. <br /> The portion of Little Turkey Creek found within the Hitch Rack Ranch is classified as a <br /> headwater stream. Headwater streams in Colorado are cold, relatively steep, silt-free rocky <br /> substrate in riffle-run areas with areas of slow, deep water. Well vegetated stream banks, <br /> abundant instream cover, and relatively stable water flow, temperature regimes, and stream <br /> banks also make headwater streams ideal habitat for brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), the only <br /> fish observed in Little Turkey Creek. Transit Mix consulted with CPW regarding aquatic species <br /> in Little Turkey Creek or similar streams; however, CPW does not have any data on species or <br /> habitat conditions that are in close proximity to the project as they typically sample streams with <br /> public fishing access. <br /> Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry Permit Application <br /> March 9, 2018 H-3 <br />