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B-33 <br /> Keenesburg Project RETTEW Project No. 114782000 <br /> Colorado Sand Company LLC April2019 <br /> 3.3.2 Results <br /> The majority of the project area consists of moderately to heavily grazed pasture with a significant amount of <br /> sandy bare ground. The only wildlife observations included a red-tailed hawk soaring overhead and <br /> jackrabbits near two of the sample points. Rodent burrows and tracks were observed scattered throughout <br /> the project area. No suitable trees for nesting raptors were noted. No evidence of prairie dogs or prairie dog <br /> burrows were observed. No migratory bird nests,dens,or other wildlife signs were observed. <br /> The shallow drainage located along the east side of Section 12,that is visible on aerial imagery(Appendix A, <br /> Figure 2), contains wetlands and ponded water in areas. These wetland areas contained dense vegetation <br /> that was not present in upland portions of the project area, and likely provide water and habitat for passing <br /> birds,wildlife,and cattle. <br /> 3.4 Conclusions <br /> The following wildlife species were identified as having the potential to occur in the project area: <br /> • Burrowing owl <br /> • Mountain plover <br /> • Black-tailed prairie dog <br /> • Northern pocket gopher. <br /> These species were selected based on their range and general habitat requirements. No known <br /> occurrences of these species within the project area were identified during the desktop review or the field <br /> investigation. <br /> The burrowing owl(Athene cunicularia) is federally protected by the MBTA and is also listed as threatened <br /> by the State of Colorado. Burrowing owls prefer to nest in shortgrass prairie,often in or adjacent to prairie <br /> dog towns. They nest and live in underground burrows created by prairie dogs, ground squirrels and <br /> badgers.Although no prairie dog towns were observed within the project area,the field investigation was <br /> limited in scope and field crews did not survey the entire project area. Therefore, there is potential for <br /> burrowing owl habitat to exist within the project area. <br /> The mountain plover(Charadrius montanus) is federally protected by the MBTA and also as State Special <br /> Concern Species by the State of Colorado. Mountain plovers inhabit prairie grasslands, arid plains and <br /> fields. Nesting plovers choose shortgrass prairies grazed by prairie dog and cattle,and overgrazed tallgrass <br /> and fallow fields. No plovers or nests were observed during the limited field investigation; however, <br /> suitable habitat may exist within the project area. <br /> The Black-tailed prairie dog(Cynomys ludovianus)is a State of Colorado Special Concern Species but is not <br /> protected under state law. No prairie dogs or prairie dog towns were observed during the site <br /> investigation. The sandy soils found throughout the project area may not provide quality or suitable <br /> habitat for prairie dogs. <br /> The Plains pocket gopher (Thomomys talpoides macrotis) is the most likely of the four Colorado pocket <br /> gopher species to be found in the project area because it prefers deep sandy and silty soils. Pocket gophers <br /> reduce productivity of portions of native grasslands by 20 to 50 percent (CSU, 2016). Evidence of small <br /> mammal burrows was observed at several locations across the project area during the site investigation. <br /> The Plains pocket gopher is not listed by the State of Colorado or protected under state law. <br /> 7 <br /> Keenesburg Project—Limited Impact 110 Application_May 24,2019 <br />