2019-05-24_PERMIT FILE - M2019028 (11)

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A ERC DPG Site Threatened and Endangered Species Screening 3.0 SCREENING METHODOLOGY ERC conducted a literature review as part of initial data collection for preparation of this report. Among others, ERC reviewed the available literature sources including; CPW information and the US Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS) Federal Register. A field inspection was subsequently conducted on May 1,2019 to identify and document the presence of natural vegetation communities, general wildlife use and potential for threatened and endangered species/habitat. Upon review of all available resources, including literature and field inspections, ERC provides the following determination for the survey area. 4.0 GENERAL WILDLIFE HABITAT(NON-REGULATED) Wildlife utilizes the general landscape in a multitude of ways and uses a variety of habitats as areas of permanent inhabitance,seasonal inhabitance, breeding grounds,migratory routes,forforaging purposes, or as a temporary shelter. Potential wildlife habitat includes lands characterized as Western Cattail Marsh, Western Great Plains Riparian Woodland, Shrubland and Herbaceous, Upland Grassland and Ruderal Herbaceous,and Cultivated Cropland vegetation. Historic and current land use practices have restricted the development of any significant natural vegetation communities within a majority of the survey area,which limits the overall quality of potential wildlife habitat. Non-native species or ruderal native species which permeate the vegetation communities generally do not provide quality habitat for most wildlife. Although somewhat degraded and lacking in native biodiversity, the agricultural and ruderal herbaceous vegetation communities within the survey area do provide a number of wildlife benefits within the larger regional laCidstape.Such lands often serve as a buffer between natural areas, providing food, cover, nesting and open-space habitat which allow movement and exchange of plant and animal populations. Cultivated Cropland and Upland Grassland Ruderal Herbaceous uplands are not typically considered of high ecological value to wildlife, but these habitat types have beneficial values to certain wildlife species. These areas at a minimum are considered "open space" providing limited foraging and hunting grounds, refuge and nesting. The Cultivated Cropland vegetation community within the survey area occupies a majority of the land cover percentage of the survey area (58%), occurring in the southern, eastern, and western portions of the survey area. The agricultural land which is present across the survey area has largely replaced the native shortgrass prairie habitat which would have been present in this region. This vegetation community had been recently tilled at the time of the field investigation and generally lacked vegetation in the survey area. The Upland Grassland and Ruderal Herbaceous vegetation community occupies approximately 17% of the survey area and occurs south of the Cache la Poudre River riparian corridor. This community is dominated by smooth brome (Bromus inermis), western wheatgrass (Poscopyrum smithii), and a variety of ruderal forbs. The Upland Grassland and Ruderal Herbaceous community appears to be frequently disturbed. Non-native species or ruderal native species which permeate these vegetation communities generally do not provide quality habitat for most wildlife. In general, agriculture practices have altered the structure, function, community composition, and habitat value of land within the survey area. The Western Cattail Western Marsh and Great Plains Riparian Woodland, Shrubland and Herbaceous vegetation communities can be considered somewhat valuable to wildlife by providing shelter, foraging habitat, nesting habitat, and act as a movement corridor for various small to mid-size mammals, amphibians, birds,and reptiles.The Western Great Plains Riparian Woodland,Shrubland and Herbaceous 9