2019-08-01_REVISION - M2018051 (4)

Home Browse Search

current aerial imagery within the Project Area. The results of the Desktop analysis indicated approximately 546 acres of suitable habitat. Habitat Assessment Suitable habitat Suitable Habitat is associated with prairie dog and ground squirrel colonies in shrub-steppe environments with open grassland prairies containing short vegetation and bare ground throughout the front range and eastern plains of Colorado. 2Dot conducted habitat assessments via on-foot and off-highway vehicle (OHV) on 7/9/2018 to field verify and map suitable BUOW habitat (Attachment 2: Photographs). When suitable BUOW habitat was present, 2Dot surveyed the perimeter of the habitat and mapped it using a handheld Garmin GPS Map 64s GPS (GPS). During the habitat assessment, 2Dot ruled out non-suitable habitat and mapped approximately 153 acres of suitable BUOW habitat (Attachment 1: Figure 2). Suitable habitat was associated with five separate black-tailed prairie dog colonies (Suitable Habitat 1-5) located within the Project Area (Attachment 1: Figures 3-5). 2Dot mapped suitable habitat in the following locations: Section 11,Township 3N, Range 61 West ■ Suitable Habitat 1: ± 0.73 Acres Section 3,Township 3N, Range 61 West ■ Suitable Habitat 2: ± 13.55 Acres ■ Suitable Habitat 3: ± 20.95 Acres ■ Suitable Habitat 4: ± 1.03 Acres Section 11,Township 3N, Range 62 West ■ Suitable Habitat 5: ± 116.41 Acres Suitable BUOW habitat extends outside the Project Area and was mapped using aerial imagery and visual observations. Suitable habitat outside the Project Area was not mapped with a GPS and is only an estimate. Non-suitable habitat The majority of the Project Area was considered non-suitable BUOW habitat. Non-suitable BUOW habitat was predominately sagebrush and tall grass communities as well as active agricultural lands. Results BUOW surveys were conducted following the 2008 Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Survey Protocol and Actions to Protect Nesting Burrowing Owls (Attachment 3: Burrowing Owl Survey Protocol). 2Dot conducted four (4) call-broadcast BUOW surveys on 7/9/2018, 7/10/2018, 7/16/2018, and 7/23/2018 on 153 acres of suitable habitat within the Project Area (Attachment 4: Burrowing Owl Survey Results). COLORADO WYOMING 2200 W.29th Ave,Ste 102 www.2dotconsulting.com 116 Bridge Ave Denver,CO 80211 Saratoga,WY 82331 Tel.303.953.2255 Tel.307.326.3237 drones 9 environmental • civil engineering 9 water I soil I air • reclamation • gis