A ERC DPG Site
<br /> Threatened and Endangered Species Screening
<br /> vegetation community within the survey area occupies approximately 20% along the Cache la Poudre in
<br /> the northern portion of the survey area and along the South Platte in the eastern portion of the survey
<br /> area.This habitat is a forested riparian area exhibiting overstory canopy trees, midstory shrubs and dense
<br /> herbaceous understory cover. Overstory canopy trees and midstory shrubs,situated near an agricultural
<br /> landscape, can provide potential roosting and nesting habitat for visiting and residential raptors and
<br /> smaller migratory birds. The Western Cattail Marsh vegetation community within the survey area
<br /> occupies a small percentage of the survey area (4%) in the north central portion of the survey area.This
<br /> habitat is dominated by narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia) and saltgrass (Distichilis spicata). Cattail
<br /> marsh provides unique valuable habitat qualities for certain species, including nesting materials,foraging
<br /> opportunities, and a seasonal water source. The remaining 1% of the land cover consists of roads,
<br /> structures,and surface water.
<br /> Some local wildlife species that may use this habitat within the Survey area includes Canada geese(Branta
<br /> canadensis), common mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus),
<br /> mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), killdeer (Charadrius vociferous), western meadowlark (Sturnella
<br /> neglecta), Great Plains toad (Anaxyrus cognatus), snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), garter snake
<br /> (Thamnophis sp.), and various other species of fish and aquatic invertebrate.
<br /> • Generally,there are features on the survey area and the surrounding area that provide general habitat
<br /> for local songbirds, raptors, waterfowl, amphibians, reptiles, aquatic invertebrate and small to mid-
<br /> size mammals. However,the majority of the habitat on survey area is classified as cultivated cropland
<br /> and ruderal herbaceous vegetation which is somewhat degraded from a wildlife perspective by
<br /> historic and current land use practices. Within the survey area, the Western Great Plains Riparian
<br /> Woodland, Shrubland, and Herbaceous and Western Cattail Marsh communities occupy a smaller
<br /> percentage of the survey area; however, these communities do provide significantly higher value
<br /> wildlife habitat,specifically along the Cache La Poudre River.
<br /> 5.0 MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY ACT
<br /> Migratory birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act(MBTA)(16 U.S.C.730-712). The MBTA
<br /> makes it illegal for anyone to take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase barter, or offer for
<br /> sale, purchase, or barter any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such a bird except under the
<br /> terms of a valid permit issued pursuant to Federal regulations. In Colorado, all birds except for the
<br /> European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and rock pigeon (Columba livia)
<br /> are protected under the MBTA.A total of 523 migratory bird species are known to occur in the Mountain-
<br /> Prairie Region (USFWS Region 6, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska,
<br /> Kansas and Colorado); 320 of the 523 migratory bird species are known to breed in USFWS Region 6.
<br /> Migratory birds likely exist within the survey area. The mature overstory cottonwood trees and open
<br /> shrub midstory within the Western Great Plains Riparian Woodland, Shrubland and Herbaceous
<br /> vegetation community on the eastern portion of the survey area provide potential habitat for migratory
<br /> birds. Several migratory birds were also directly observed within the survey area, including mourning
<br /> dove, black-billed magoie(Pica hudsonia),American white pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos),American
<br /> robin (Turdus migratorius), western grebe (Aechmorphorus occidentolis), great blue heron (Ardea
<br /> herodias), mallards, western meadowlark, red-winged blackbird, black-capped chickadee (Poecile
<br /> atricapillus),northern flicker(Colaptes auratus),Say's phoebe(Sayornis saya),blue jay(Cyanotta cristata),
<br /> yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata), and chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina). Such birds are
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