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2018 Biological Resources Inventory Report <br /> expected by the Project. Permanent reclamation of the site will be reclaimed as two below-grade water <br /> storage reservoirs and a reclaimed upland meadow in the Project area. Native vegetation will be seeded <br /> and planted which will support wildlife species. Wildlife would be allowed to return to the Project area <br /> following mining operations. Overall wildlife and vegetation habitat is expected to improve compared to <br /> the habitat that currently exists. Available food for both herbivores and carnivores is expected to increase <br /> when the Project is completed because wildlife habitat and vegetation habitat is expected to improve. <br /> 2.2.2.2 Raptor Nest Survey Results <br /> During the field surveys, two potential raptor nests were observed in the Project area(TM-UNK-01, TM- <br /> UNK-02) (Figure 1). The nests were not observed to be active during surveys. In addition, two Red-tailed <br /> Hawks were identified on several occasions flying over the Project area. Several large stands of <br /> deciduous trees with the potential to support raptor nests were observed throughout the Project area and <br /> within a 0.5 mile buffer of the Project area. The east side of the Project area in the riparian corridor along <br /> the South Platte River was noted to have a relatively high abundance of potential nesting sites <br /> 2.2.2.3 Listed Species—Habitat Suitability Assessment Results <br /> All federally listed species in the USFWS IPaC summary were determined to be unlikely to occur in the <br /> desktop analysis (Table 2). Field surveys confirmed the information provided in Table 3. Desktop analysis <br /> determined that there was potential for five state-listed species to occur or to have suitable habitat in the <br /> Project area. These five species included burrowing owl (ST), brassy minnow(ST), plains minnow(SE), <br /> suckermouth minnow(SE), and river otter(ST). The field survey effort documented suitable habitat for all <br /> five of the state listed species. <br /> 2.2.2.4 General Vegetation Results <br /> The field survey identified 47 species of native and introduced plants within the Project area. These plant <br /> species are listed in Table 6. <br /> Table 6: <br /> Vegetation Observed in the Project Area,July 6 and 7,2017 <br /> Common Name Scientific Name Notes <br /> Russian knapweed Acroptilon repens Listed noxious weed <br /> Crested wheatgrass Agropyron cristatum Introduced herbaceous species <br /> Desert madwort Alyssum desertorum Introduced herbaceous species <br /> Common ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia Native herbaceous species <br /> Perennial ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya Native herbaceous species <br /> Pricklypoppy Argemone hispida Native herbaceous species <br /> Smooth brome Bromus inermis Introduced herbaceous species <br /> Downy brome Bromus tectorum Listed noxious weed <br /> Plumeless thistle Carduus acanthoides Listed Noxious weed <br /> Musk thistle Carduus nutans Listed Noxious weed <br /> Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa Listed noxious weed <br /> Lambs quarters Chenopodium album Introduced herbaceous species <br /> Oakleaf goosefoot Chenopodium glaucum I Introduced herbaceous species <br /> Canada thistle Cirsium arvense Listed noxious weed <br /> Tucson South Sand and Gravel Mine—Brighton,Colorado 15 <br />