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2019-10-08_PERMIT FILE - M2019054 (74)
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2019-10-08_PERMIT FILE - M2019054 (74)
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Last modified
1/6/2025 5:19:31 AM
Creation date
10/9/2019 2:22:02 PM
Metadata
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Template:
DRMS Permit Index
Permit No
M2019054
IBM Index Class Name
PERMIT FILE
Doc Date
10/8/2019
Doc Name Note
Part 4 of 5
Doc Name
Application
From
Uinta Mining, LLC
To
DRMS
Email Name
SJM
THM
Media Type
D
Archive
No
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INTRODUCTION <br /> Uinta Mining, LLC requested that WestWater Engineering(WestWater)conduct raptor surveys for the <br /> Skull Creek Sand Project located in northwestern Colorado near the intersection of Moffat County Road <br /> 104 and Skull Creek Road in Section 35 and 36,Township 4 North, Range 101 West,and Section 2, <br /> Township 3 North, Range 101 West(Figure 1). The proposed Skull Creek Sand Project would be located <br /> on lands owned by the State of Colorado,while the proposed access road to the site is situated on <br /> privately owned lands. <br /> Raptor surveys were conducted on August 9,2019. The purpose of the surveys was to document raptor <br /> nest sites, habitat,and use areas. , <br /> PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION <br /> The project would be located west of Skull Creek at an elevation of approximately 5,800 feet. Terrain <br /> north of the project area is characterized by sandstone cliffs composed of Cretaceous and Tertiary <br /> sedimentary strata,resulting in a large amount of exposed rock that provides nesting habitat for several <br /> cliff-nesting raptor species. Terrain south of the project area is characterized by a broad valley, gently <br /> sloping to the south. The vegetation in the project area is dominated by sagebrush and mixed <br /> greasewood/saltbush shrublands with a weedy understory composed of annual grasses and fortis. Utah <br /> juniper woodlands and desert shrublands comprise the northern portion of the survey area. Vegetation <br /> along Skull Creek to the east of the project area is composed of riparian habitat, including willows, <br /> scattered cottonwoods,and wetland vegetation. <br /> METHODS <br /> Raptor surveys were conducted on August 9,2019. Surveys were designed to find both occupied and <br /> unoccupied nest sites occurring within the survey area. The surveys focused on cliff nesting habitat and <br /> mature juniper woodlands within the survey area. Data locations were recorded using handheld Global <br /> Positioning System(GPS)units(Datum:NAD83,Zone 12)and photographs were taken of the habitat, <br /> terrain, and biological features found during the survey. <br /> Aerial photographs were consulted to determine likely woodland raptor nesting habitat within a 0.25-mile <br /> buffer of proposed project features and within a 0.5-mile buffer of project features for cliff nesting species <br /> (Figure 2). WestWater biologists conducted pedestrian surveys through woodland nesting habitat at <br /> approximately 50-meter intervals while visually inspecting trees for nests. Biologists selected routes that <br /> would ensure adequate coverage of all potential raptor nest trees and would provide a clear view of all <br /> potential cliff nest sites. Raptor nest surveys were aided by using binoculars and spotting scopes. <br /> Observations <br /> The raptor nesting season in the project area is generally considered to occur between mid-February and <br /> mid-August. In WestWater's experience,owls and eagles are the first raptors to begin the annual nesting <br /> cycle,followed by the falcons and hawks. By mid-August, most young birds have fledged and left the <br /> nest. Common species that have potential to nest, forage, or pass through the project area are described in <br /> Table 1 (Poole 2019 and Sibley 2006). Habitat suitability for these species was based on survey <br /> observations as well as habitat and nesting records as described in the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas <br /> (Wickersham 2016,and references therein), Colorado Birds(Andrews and Righter 1992), and Birds of <br /> North America(Online)(Rodewald 2019). Five of these species are included on the Federal Birds of <br /> Conservation Concern list for Bird Conservation Region 16—Southern Rockies/Colorado Plateau <br /> (USFWS 2008). <br /> WestWater Engineering Page 1 of 6 August 2019 <br />
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