2020-01-27_PERMIT FILE - M2020002

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r habitat or fragmentation of habitat. US Fish and Wildlife Service should be consulted on any Federally-listed Endangered and Threatened Species that might be present at the location. Wildlife species that can be found on the project site include: black tailed prairie dog, burrowing owls, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, several bat species, many additional species of small mammals, a variety of reptiles including habitat for the Massasauga rattlesnake, and a variety of grassland birds as well as scaled quail. Golden eagles are present year-round and utilize the area frequently. Golden eagles, as well as Ferruginous hawk, Red-tailed hawk, Prairie falcon, and Swainson's hawk, hunt nearby and within prairie dog colonies, and nest in the surrounding area. This is also a migratory flyway with staging and wintering areas for waterfowl and other migratory birds. The majority of the project is shortgrass prairie which provides habitat for the species listed above. If black-tailed prairie dog towns are present within the project area, there is a high probability that burrowing owls and mountain plovers are present within those towns as well. Consultation with USFWS is recommended to ensure compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Act. The best way to avoid impacts on the nesting efforts of migratory birds is to focus construction activities outside of the breeding season (March 15U -October 31°'). If construction must occur during the breeding season, surveys for active nests should be conducted prior to groundbreaking. All migratory birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and removal or disturbance of any migratory bird nest would require consultation with CPW and USFWS prior to disturbance. Other Threatened, Endangered, and State Species of Concern: Burrowing Owls (Achene cunicularia), a state threatened bird, may be found within the preferred corridor and CPW recommends a survey of prairie dog colonies prior to construction to determine absence or presence of the species. If nesting burrowing owls are present, CPW recommends no human encroachment within 300 ft of nesting burrows from March 15 to October 31. If burrowing owls merely occupy the site, it is recommended that earthmoving and other disturbance activities be delayed until late fall after they have migrated. The proposed project area is within the range of the Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus), a state species of special concern. The Best Management Practices for mountain plover recommend surveys to identify habitat and plover nests within the project area, and plan construction activity outside of critical nesting periods, April 1st through August 15 where these species are found. Mountain plovers can nest in short-grass prairie, dryland cultivated farms, and prairie dog towns and are likely to be nesting on the project area.