2019-11-27_PERMIT FILE - M2019058 (20)

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Appendix-9 Keenesburg Project RETTEW Project No.114782000 Colorado Sand Company LLC April26,2019 3.2.3 State Species RETTEW reviewed CPW All Species Activity Mapping GIS data to identify species with ranges that overlap the project area(CPW, 018).CPW habitat suitability descriptions were compared with data from the field investigation and aerial mapping to determine which species have the potential to occur within the project area.Table 3.2 identifies the evaluated species and lists the potential for each to occur within the project area. Table 3.2:State Listed Species Potential Common Name Scientific Name Status' Habitat Occurrence within Site' Birds Burrowing Owl A hene cunicularia MBTA, Shortgrass prairie in or adjacent Possible ST to prairie dog towns Mountain Plover C aradrius M Prairie grasslands, shortgrass Possible m ntanus SCA' prairie grazed by cattle or prairie dogs Mammals Black-tailed C nomys ludovianus Grasslands, shortgrass prairie, Possible Prairie Dog SC desert grasslands Plains Pocket ( eomys bursaries) Upland areas of eastern plains in Likely Gopher deep sandy soils 'MBTA—Protected under M ratory Bird Treaty Act 'The potential for occurrenc is based on desktop and field assessments.Comments from CPW will be required to confirm findings. SC—State Special Concern ST—State Threatened RETTEW contacted the ZPW District Wildlife Manager to obtain additional information regarding species of concern in the project area.The District Manager stated that CPW generally requests a 30-day window for reviewing land use proposals, and that comments would be provided once CPW receives the Use by Special Review(USR) notice from Weld County Planning Department for the project. 3.3 Field Investigation The field investigation was conducted by qualified biologists on December 19 and 20, 2018. Field crews were escorted through Guttersen Ranch by the ranch caretaker. 3.3.1 Methods Field crews completed ehicle and pedestrian surveys of the project area using previously prepared field maps and Global Positi ning System (GPS) units which were utilized to navigate to the center of each quarter-section within the project area. Field crews navigated to previously identified sample point locations at the centr id of each quarter-section. Sample Point Data Forms were completed at each sample point and included location, vegetation, soil, wildlife observations, and general habitat information (Appendix Q.This data was used to characterize conditions present within the project area. Sample point locations are identified on the aerial basemap (Appendix A, Figure 2). Photographs were taken at each sample point and of any relevant findings and are provided in Appendix B. 6