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associated with hunting (approximately 70 known sites), and nonspecific dispersed recreation. <br />Water development (reservoirs, ditches) occurs on both federal and private lands in the area, <br />including three irrigation reservoirs totaling 68 surface acres. On private lands, single family <br />habitation, ranching including hay production, mining activities, and livestock grazing are the <br />primary uses within the LAU. <br />Canada Lynx <br />Lynx Standards and Guidelines from the GMUG Forest Plan are shown at the end of this <br />document. <br />Direct and Indirect Effects <br />The following potential effects to lynx may include: <br />■ short-term direct effects of habitat loss / alteration <br />■ short-term direct effects from disturbance to denning or foraging <br />■ short-term direct effects of mortality from traffic or shooting <br />■ impacts from changes in winter access (competition and disturbance) <br />■ long-term direct effects as a result of changes in vegetation, which provides denning and <br />foraging habitat <br />As noted earlier, a "worst case" scenario for habitat loss is being analyzed due to the uncertainty <br />of locations of project actions. <br />If the proposed action is implemented, 75 acres of suitable habitat could be directly lost through <br />creation of roads and well pads within the LAU (0.3%). Past and current activities may result in <br />the loss of 125 acres of habitat within the LAU, for a total of 200 acres of habitat lost within the <br />LAU within the last ten years (0.8% of lynx habitat within the LAU). <br />If all of the lease modification area subsides to the extent that surface habitat is damaged or <br />destroyed, an additional 1360.5 acres of habitat would be lost within the LAU, for a total of <br />1560.5 acres (6.2% of lynx habitat within the LAU). None of the other past, present, or <br />reasonably foreseeable future activities within the LAU are anticipated to result in lost habitat or <br />habitat effectiveness. <br />Disturbance to denning or foraging is possible if lynx are present in the area. This is not <br />anticipated to be a substantial impact as the lease area is at lower elevation than denning has <br />occurred in Colorado, there is abundant lynx habitat outside of the affected area, and lease <br />stipulations for this project follow guidelines as noted in Appendix A. <br />Sunset Lease Modification Biological Assessment 15 <br />