2018-05-30_PERMIT FILE - M2018028

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Peregrine falcons could also be expected to forage along the river corridor during the breeding season. There are several breeding cliffs in the upper Arkansas River valley; however, there are no nesting sites in the vicinity of the project area. Environmental Effects Proposed Action Direct and Indirect Impacts: Peregrine and Golden Eagles nest within the Royal Gorge and Bighorn Sheep Canyon and Bald Eagles use the river corridor in the winter; however,no known nest sites are located within two miles of the project area; therefore, impacts to these species is expected to be minimal. Protective/Mitigation Measures:None. Cumulative Impacts: Recent interest in both recreational mineral specimen collection and mining activity under the Mining Law has increased on the Arkansas River creating additional disturbances to obligate riparian wildlife species and stream-banks. Activities proposed here are cumulative to those other disturbances and activities, such as fishing,park development and rafting activities, along the Arkansas River corridor. No Action Alternative Direct and Indirect Impacts: None Protective/Mitigation Measures: None Finding on the Public Land Health Standard for Threatened&Endangered species: The proposed action will have no effect on the public land health standards for T&E species. 3.3.3 VEGETATION (includes a finding on standard 3) Affected Environment: Potential vegetation in the project area includes blue grama, Indian ricegrass, needlegrasses, sand dropseed,mountain mahogany, and Gambel oak in the dry uplands and willow species along the river. While some of these species are present in the project area, due to historic livestock grazing and mining, the dry uplands are in a poor vegetative condition and contain a large amount of Russian thistle and cheat grass. In the absence of further disturbance the site would be expected to transition to the natural background conditions overtime. The area mined relatively recently is a mix of river cobble and sand that has no top soil and supports very little vegetation. Environmental Effects Proposed Action Direct and Indirect Impacts: The Proposed Action would temporarily remove the soil and associated vegetation from the area. Due to the steep slopes in the area of planned work it will be difficult to keep excavated material from tumbling down onto streamside riparian margins and entering the Arkansas river during extreme flows. Establishment of preferred native vegetation will require detailed planning and monitoring.