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\f - - <br /> 4o 0UM Transit Mix Concrete Co. <br /> III. Threatened and Endangered Species <br /> Three federally listed species and four state listed species could potentially occur on the site. <br /> Discussions were initiated in 2015 with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to address <br /> federally listed species. The Mexican spotted owl (federal and state threatened) is a rare <br /> resident of certain areas of the Colorado mountains. Critical habitat for the species is federally <br /> designated on federal lands in the area, but not on private lands such as the Ranch and permit <br /> site (FWS, 2004). Transit Mix's wildlife consultants completed a Mexican spotted owl habitat <br /> assessment at the site in 2015. Mexican spotted owl foraging habitat exists in the permit area <br /> and it is less than 0.25% of the potential foraging area identified by The Nature Conservancy, <br /> but very limited nesting and roosting habitat is present. In the 1990s, breeding Mexican spotted <br /> owls were documented about 2 miles north of the site, but subsequent surreys by federal lands <br /> biologists failed to locate those owls for several years, surveys were discontinued, and their <br /> status now is unknown. Surveys for Mexican spotted owls following USFWS protocol and <br /> direction were completed at the site in 2015 and 2016, and no Mexican spotted owls were <br /> detected. An additional survey, while not required by USFWS, was conducted in 2017, and <br /> again, no Mexican spotted owls were located. Results of the 2015, 2016, and 2017 surveys are <br /> included with this application. Further consultation with USFWS will occur to avoid or minimize <br /> adverse effects to Mexican spotted owl and comply with the U.S. Endangered Species Act. An <br /> assessment of Mexican spotted owl habitat in the project area is attached to this exhibit. <br /> This site is within potential range of the federally threatened Ute ladies'-tresses orchid. <br /> Potential habitat riparian wetlands were evaluated on-site with an accompanying USFWS <br /> biologist, and it was determined that suitable habitat does not exist and adverse effects would <br /> not occur. <br /> The site is within USFWS-mapped potential range for Preble's meadow jumping mouse (federal <br /> and state threatened). The site was evaluated for potential habitat, and USFWS determined <br /> that the site is out of range for the species and no adverse effects would occur. <br /> The gray wolf and wolverine (state endangered) were evaluated. Potential habitat exists, but no <br /> populations currently occur in the area or the state, and the species would not be likely to be <br /> affected. <br /> A review of the USFWS Information, Planning and Conservation (IPaC) System provided <br /> information regarding federally listed threatened and endangered species (TES) on the Hitch <br /> Rack Ranch property. A total of two fish species were flagged in the IPaC query including the <br /> Arkansas darter (Etheostoma cragini) and greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii <br /> stomias). Both of these species were eliminated from investigation since the species' requisite <br /> water features are not present on the site. In addition, the greenback cutthroat trout is only <br /> found in a small section of Bear Creek, located over 50 miles to the north. <br /> Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry Permit Application <br /> March 9, 2018 H-4 <br />