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Biological Survey Report <br /> Black Mountain Sand Weld LLC—Lost Creek Mine <br /> were assigned a unique feature ID number with a "S" prefix. A Waterbody Data Form was completed for <br /> each waterbody. Representative photos were taken of all identified features. <br /> 2.3 VEGETATION AND LAND USE <br /> Vegetation communities and land use cover types were documented within the survey area. <br /> Representative grass, forb, and shrub species were identified within each vegetation cover type. The <br /> scientific and common names included herein are consistent with the current nomenclature used by the <br /> USDA NRCS PLANTS database (USDA NRCS 2018b). <br /> 2.4 SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES <br /> In consultation with the USFWS,three federally listed threatened species(Mexican spotted owl,Colorado <br /> butterfly plant, and Ute ladies'-tresses orchid)were identified as having the potential to occur within the <br /> survey area. In addition,five federally listed threatened and endangered species(least tern, piping plover, <br /> whooping crane, pallid sturgeon, and western prairie fringed orchid) were identified as having the <br /> potential to be indirectly impacted as a result of any water-related activities/use within the South Platte <br /> River Basin during Project implementation (USFWS 2018b). <br /> The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)Threatened and Endangered Species List(CPW 2018) identifies 31 <br /> state-listed species including 1 amphibian,8 birds,14 fish,and 8 mammals as having the potential to occur <br /> within the State of Colorado. In lieu of consultation with the CPW prior to field surveys,TRC determined <br /> that one state-listed species(burrowing owl) has the potential to occur within the survey area.A suitable <br /> habitat assessment was conducted throughout the survey area for the aforementioned federal and state- <br /> listed species. Suitable habitat was quantified as either "low", "moderate", "high", or "none" based on <br /> how the survey area met each species' habitat requirements.The geospatial boundary of suitable habitat <br /> was captured utilizing a Trimble GeoXH GPS unit. All habitat features were assigned a unique feature ID <br /> number with an "H" prefix. Representative photos were taken of areas identified as suitable habitat. <br /> 3.0 SURVEY RESULTS <br /> The results of the biological survey are presented as follows.All features identified within the survey area <br /> are illustrated in Figure 2 (Appendix A); representative photographs and data forms are provided in <br /> Appendices B and C, respectively. <br /> 3.1 SITE CHARACTERIZATION AND VEGETATION RESOURCES <br /> The survey area is characterized as a sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia) prairie interspersed with areas of <br /> bare ground where disturbances such as former stock ponds, cattle congregation areas, cattle trails, and <br /> two-track access roads have occurred. The sand sagebrush prairie vegetation cover type is composed of <br /> an overstory of lightly-grazed sand sagebrush, an understory of mid- and short grasses, and scattered <br /> forbs. Grass and forb species observed within the survey area include blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), <br /> buffalograss (B. dactyloides), needle-and-thread (Hesperostipa comata), sand dropseed (Sporobolus <br /> cryptandrus), Indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), prairie <br /> sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia), purple threeawn (Aristida purpurea), tall tumblemustard (Sisymbrium <br /> altissimum), stinkgrass (Eragrostis cilianensis), soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca), plains pricklypear <br /> t iNl'TRC Page 13 <br />