Laserfiche WebLink
PlnYon <br /> In the upland portion of the study area alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and smooth brome (Bromus inermis) were <br /> dominant in agricultural areas, while intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium), downy brome (Bromus <br /> tectorum), and kochia (Bossia scopario) were dominant in pasturelands. Lamb's quarters (Chenopodium album) <br /> was common throughout all upland areas regardless of land use. <br /> Vegetation cover in riparian areas was dominated by an understory of smooth brome, leafy spurge (Euphorbia <br /> esula), and common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum). Shrubby species such as poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii), <br /> snowberry (Symphoricarpus albus), and coyote willow (Salix exigua)and trees such as crack willow (Salix fragilis), <br /> Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila), and Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoidies) were also present. <br /> Wetland areas were identified throughout the study area and are discussed further below. <br /> Federally Listed Species <br /> Based on a review of the United Stated Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) online Information, Planning and <br /> Conservation (IPaC) System, there are nine federally listed species with the potential to occur in, or be <br /> impacted by, a project located in Weld County (USFWS, 2017). <br /> Of the nine species,five species are included because they occur downstream of the study area along the Platte <br /> and/or Missouri Rivers and could be impacted by projects that would result in water depletions to their <br /> tributaries. These five species include the Interior Least Tern (Sternula antillorum), pallid sturgeon <br /> (Scaphirhynchus albus), Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus), Whooping Crane (Grus americana), and Western <br /> prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara). Since this project is avoiding all mapped wetland and riparian areas <br /> it is assumed that the project activities will not cause depletions to the South Platte River and therefore would <br /> have no effect on these species, which are not discussed further in this report. <br /> The four-remaining species are the Colorado butterfly plant (Oenothera coloradensis) (CBP), Mexican Spotted <br /> Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida), Preble's meadow jumping mouse(Zapus hudsonius preblei) (PMJM), and Ute ladies'- <br /> tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis) (ULTO). The habitat and distribution of each of the remaining four species <br /> was reviewed, and the potential for occurrence for each species was assigned based on the conditions at the <br /> study area (Table 1). <br /> Table I Federally Listed Threatened and Endangered Species and Their Potential to <br /> Occur in the Study Area <br /> Common Latin Federal Potential for Effects <br /> Name Name Status Habitat Occurrence in Determination <br /> Study Area <br /> Birds <br /> Mature, old-growth None. Potential <br /> forests that possess habitat was not <br /> Mexican Strix observed in the <br /> Spotted occidentalis FT complex structural study area and No effect <br /> Owl lucido components; canyons, the study area is <br /> riparian and conifer <br /> communities. outside of known <br /> range. <br /> Informal Wetland Delineation and Biological Resources Report <br /> Weld County Gravel Pit Project <br /> November 16, 2017 2 <br />