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EXHIBIT H Skull Creek Sand Project
<br /> Fish and Wildlife - General Description
<br /> Moffat County enjoys a considerable diversity and abundance of wildlife, due in part to the broad range
<br /> of habitat types. The county's landforms support habitats that vary from sparse cold deserts to
<br /> subalpine forest. Preserving fish and wildlife resources in the county is important not only for hunting
<br /> and fishing, but also for passive recreation and the preservation of threatened and endangered species.
<br /> Mammal species in the county include a broad variety of game and non-game species. Game species
<br /> common to the area are elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, black bear, coyote, mountain lion, and two
<br /> species of cottontail rabbit. Other predators of the area are badger, bobcat, gray fox, striped skunk,
<br /> marten, mink, long-tailed weasel, raccoon, western rattlesnake, and several other species of snakes and
<br /> lizards. Other non-game species include white-tailed jackrabbit, beaver, chipmunk, yellow-bellied
<br /> marmot, muskrat, porcupine, and white-tailed prairie dog. Wild horses occur in isolated areas in the
<br /> County, especially in the Sand Wash basin.
<br /> Moffat County also has an abundance of bird species.Among these are several species of hummingbirds
<br /> and many species of native songbirds. Numerous birds of prey reside in the county, such as golden and
<br /> bald eagles, turkey vulture, prairie falcon, Coopers hawk, American kestrel,ferruginous hawk,great
<br /> horned owl, long-eared owl, turkey buzzards, and red-tailed hawk. Game species include blue grouse,
<br /> sage grouse, chukar, Canada goose, mallard, and other species of waterfowl. Brown's Park National
<br /> Wildlife Refuge provides crucial nesting and migration habitat for a number of migratory birds.
<br /> Approximately 200 species of birds can be found on the refuge.Thousands of waterfowl can be found
<br /> there during the spring and fall migration.
<br /> The Yampa River, Green River, Little Snake River, and their tributaries, contain a variety of fish species,
<br /> including Rocky Mountain whitefish, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, native cutthroat trout,
<br /> roundtail chub, northern pike, humpbacked chub, and Colorado pike minnow. Introduction of non-
<br /> native fish, such as the northern pike, has been a major concern for the survival of native fish species,
<br /> particularly in drought years.
<br /> Moffat County has present or potential habitat for many state and federally classified threatened and/or
<br /> endangered species including: Colorado River cutthroat, Colorado pike minnow, razorback sucker,
<br /> bonytail chub, humpback chub, peregrine falcon, whooping crane, greater sandhill crane, black-footed
<br /> ferret,greater sage grouse, and Colombian sharp-tailed grouse.
<br /> Locally generated teams have been established to create species conservation plans for the Black-footed
<br /> Ferret, Colombian Sharp-tailed Grouse, and Greater Sage Grouse populations. In 2001, the Colombian
<br /> Sharp-tailed Grouse Conservation Plan was completed and signed by private individuals, agencies, and
<br /> organizations, including Moffat County.The Black-footed Ferret Conservation Plan has also been
<br /> completed, and the ferret has been released in western Moffat County under the "experimental, non-
<br /> essential" rule.
<br /> The reclamation of the Trapper Mine has helped re-establish the Colombian Sharp-tailed grouse.
<br /> Recovery efforts for Black-Footed Ferrets and Greater Sage Grouse are in various stages of completion.
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