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2 • <br /> Brittany Schamaun <br /> Black Mountain Sand Weld LLC <br /> 500 Main Street, Suite 1200 <br /> Fort Worth,TX 76102 <br /> July 17, 2019 <br /> Re: Preliminary Desktop Review of Suitable Burrowing Owl Habitat Amendment Summary of the Black <br /> Mountain Sand Weld Project in Weld County,Colorado <br /> Dear Ms. Schamaun, <br /> In August 2018, Two Dot Consulting, LLC (2DOT) conducted a habitat assessment to map suitable <br /> burrowing owl (BUOW) habitat on 8,742 acres at the Black Mountain Sand DJ, LLC(BMS)Weld Project, in <br /> Weld County, CO. BUOW habitat was observed, and mapped for the initial report, which was submitted <br /> to BMS on August 18, 2018. Between 7/9/2018 and 7/23/2018, 2DOT conducted BUOW surveys at the <br /> project, the results of which are included in the report. On July 10, 2019, 2DOT conducted a preliminary <br /> desktop review for suitable BUOW habitat for an amendment to the original project area (amendment) <br /> of approximately 403 acres, located in section 10, township 3 north, range 61 west in Weld County, <br /> Colorado (Figure 1). 2DOT used 2019 Google Earth imagery and LIDAR data provided by Black Mountain <br /> Sand Weld LLC to map potentially suitable BUOW habitat within the amendment.Suitable BUOW habitat <br /> is considered to be prairie dog and ground squirrel colonies in shrub-steppe environments and open <br /> grassland prairies with short vegetation and bare ground throughout the front range and eastern plains <br /> of Colorado; both can be preliminarily identified through desktop imagery, though ground-truthing is <br /> required to accurately map and assess functionality. <br /> Results <br /> 2DOT mapped approximately 81.7 acres of potentially suitable BUOW habitat within the amendment <br /> based on a visual assessment of the aerial imagery. Potential habitat is located along the western <br /> boundary and northeastern corner of the project area (Figure 1)within the northeast and northwest%of <br /> section 10,township 3 north, range 61 west. <br /> The presence or absence of burrows was difficult to discern in 2019 Google Earth imagery due to the <br /> vegetative cover within the amendment. In addition,visual assessment of the LIDAR data was inconclusive <br /> due to snow cover being present in the imagery. <br /> Recommendations <br /> 2DOT recommends the amendment be surveyed to map suitable BUOW habitat. <br /> If suitable BUOW habitat is observed within 150 feet of the amendment, 2DOT recommends CPW BUOW <br /> protocol surveys. CPW recommends BUOW surveys if the project start date is between 3/15 and 10/31 <br /> (BUOW nesting season).The CPW recommended BUOW survey protocol states that a minimum of three <br /> negative surveys, spaced approximately one week apart (5-7 days), be completed prior to construction <br /> COLORADO WYOMING <br /> 2200 W.29th Ave,St 102 www.2dotconsulting.com 116 Bridge Ave <br /> Denver,CO 80211 Saratoga,WY 82331 <br /> Tel.303.953.2255 Tel.307.326.3237 <br /> drones * environmental 9 civil engineering • water I soil I air 9 reclamation 9 gis <br />